Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
….. Lagos to amend existing law
The proposed Bill on Ogun State Security Network Agency Law 2020, popularly called Amotekun Bill, passed the second reading on Thursday that the Ogun State House of Assembly, as the 26- member legislature supported the proposed establishment of Amotekun Corps.
The lawmakers also called for a befitting and compulsory insurance scheme and standard rules of engagement for members of the Corps upon its establishment.
Those were the submissions of the Assemblymen after they took turn to speak in favour of the Bill, shortly after the motion for its second reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by Hon. Sola Adams.
It was thereafter unanimously supported by all lawmakers at the plenary presided over by Speaker Kunle Oluomo.
The Bill is titled: “HB.NO 035/OG/2020-A Bill for a Law to Establish the Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps to Assist in Maintaining Law and Order in the State and for connected Purposes.”
The legislators said that the law was targeted at devising a community policing scheme to complement and collaborate with existing security agencies.
They added that the Amotekun Corps, when established and operational, would reduce crime in the state, Southwest and the nation at large; necessitating that the operatives should all have a comprehensive insurance cover.
The House said it is the role of the government to protect lives and property, adding that when the Law becomes operational, it will lead to the establishment of the Amotekun Corps to strengthen the security architecture through collaborative techniques on information and intelligence gathering system.
The lawmakers noted that the Bill, when passed by the Assembly and subsequently signed into Law by Governor Dapo Abiodun, would enhance economic prosperity, engender smooth inter-agency collaboration between local security and existing security agencies to further make the state a safe haven for economic development.
They called for effective monitoring mechanism of the operations and activities of the Corps towards ensuring efficiency and quality service delivery.
The legislators said that the operation would boost the ratio of security personnel to the citizens, with emphasis on promotion of sanity in the recruitment process.
The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday also began the process of amending the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law 2019 to accommodate a section for Amotekun Corps.
The House took the first and second readings of the Bill at plenary and committed it to the Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy to report back to the House sine die.
The House is to hold public hearing on the bill on Monday.
The Amotekun Corps, when operational, is to take charge of security at borders, forests, highways and nooks and crannies of the state to ensure protection against hoodlums, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, bandits, etc.
