The Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Rep. Adejoro Adeogun, (APC– Ondo), has called for increased generosity towards the poor to reduce potential hostility and crime in the country.
Adeogun made the call in an interview on Friday in Abuja while advising the public on security tips for Nigerians as they stay at home to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Adeogun, a former senior officer in the Department of Security Service (DSS), said that he did not expect any increase in crime as people were restricted to their residential homes and neighborhoods.
The lawmaker however said that the restriction of movement and attendant economic hardship, could come with potential security threats.
Adeogun, who represents the Akoko East/South West Federal Constituency of Ondo, said that it was such a time as this that helping poor neighbours was necessary for the safety of the rich.
“One of the ways to reduce this potential hostility is to be generous to poor neighbours: this is one time that helping poor neighbours is necessary for the safety of the rich.
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“Those who have expensive looking homes surrounded by poor people or estates sharing boundaries with slums are particularly at risk of facing the anger of the poor.
“This is definitely not a time for ostentatious living or display of affluence,’’ he said.
The parliamentarian said that he had seen videos on social media showing excessive use of force by security personnel enforcing the stay at home order.
According to him, it is unnecessary to manhandle fellow citizens; it is a manifestation of the poor training given to our security personnel.
Reacting to the continuous attack by bandits and terrorists on citizens during the lockdown, Adeogun said that the security forces were ill equipped.
He said that the security forces were also undermanned and did not have the required training to combat current challenges facing the country.
The legislator stressed the need to invest in capacity building both in terms of hardware and software for security forces to overcome insecurity in the country.
Adeogun urged all Nigerians to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously as it had effected great nations like U.S., the entire Europe and other advanced economies negatively.
He warned that there was no cure or vaccine to contain the virus, saying that the only remedy was to stay at home, observe social distancing and by obeying government instructions.
He said that he had embarked on extensive sensitisation of stakeholders, through workshops, social media and electronic media campaigns.
He said distribution of food items and cash to support members of his constituency, particularly the widows and vulnerable, through the challenging period was ongoing.
Adeogun said that rehabilitation of water boreholes to provide water which would enable constituents maintain personal hygiene was also in progress.
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