President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of Community Policing initiative across the country as part of measures to contain the security situation in the country.
This was part of the resolutions of the 6th virtual National Economic Council (NEC) in 2020, chaired on Thursday by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
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The meeting was attended by state governors, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and some federal cabinet officials.
The NEC resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, with two other governors, meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Adamu, to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding.
The team is expected to report back to the council.
Governor Fayemi had presented the report of the NEC Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing.
He noted that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalization of community policing in the country was ongoing.
The Committee would be meeting further as the need arises to update the Council on the progress being made to address insecurity and criminality in the country.
Other reports received by Council at today’s meeting included reports on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020, and the issue of compensation payments regarding Federal Highway projects across the country.
The NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19.7% in June to 13.7% in August 2020, while the number of states with testing laboratories increased from 2 to 32, including the FCT.
According to the status report presented to the council, “the average tests per day has risen from 500 at the onset of the outbreak to 3,500 today, while the daily laboratory testing capacity increased to 10,000.”
The NEC also received a presentation from the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, on flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020.
Hajiya Umar Farouk then urged States to encourage relevant Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies to take necessary actions in support of the process.
She also requested States to kindly take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing the envisaged 2020 flood disaster even in the midst of COVID 19 pandemic.
The finance minister reported to Council that the under listed accounts as at 18th August 2020 were as follows: Excess Crude Account (ECA), $72,408,119.44; Stabilization Fund Account, N44, 207, 377,110.34; and Natural Resources Development Fund Account, N144, 047, 195, 020.54.
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