Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, claims that the state’s plans to introduce a resident identification card for citizens to combat insecurity in the state has been finalized.
Obaseki made the statement at the Edo North Security Council meeting on Thursday, in Auchi, the administrative center of the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, .
All residents of Edo will be registered and handed identity cards that will be connected to their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for proper identification, according to the governor.
According to him, the state’s increasing trend of insecurity made the notion to introduce the resident identity card necessary.
“We are launching Edo State Resident Identity Card for people living in the state and for those who want to stay in Edo.
“Residents of the state must have identity cards and the identification cards will be linked to their BVN.
“This idea is for us to identify those living in Edo and to be able to deal with the security challenge in the state,” he said.
Obaseki said that security had now become his administrations priority, adding that the government was ready to deal decisively with insecurity in the state.
“Government purpose is to protect its people and when any government fails to perform that function, it is a failed government.
“This Edo North security counciil meeting is a follow up to the meeting organised by the Acting Gov of Edo, Philip Shaibu while I was on vacation.
“So this expanded meeting is to let you know what we have done and hear from you,” he said.
Obaseki gave the heads of local government administration the responsibility of organizing weekly security council meetings and informing the state security council on their work.
The governor also announced that the state would shortly start enforcing the anti-grazing law by August, as well as registering motorbike and tricycle riders, market vendors, and motor park patrons.
The local hunters and vigilantes were getting good results from scouring the bushes, he continued, and he assured them that they would have the necessary training and support to carry out their duties successfully.
“We are going to integrate vigilantes into our state security architecture and any vigilante group that is not registered will be disbanded.
“By Aug. 5, all these people, we must have their phone numbers and their photographs and we have agreed to provide them additional logistics and renumeration will be offered to members of the vigilante,” he said.
