The Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday commenced deliberations on a bill seeking to establish preventive measures against the entry of terrorists and persons with criminal intentions into the state.
The bill, which scaled its second reading, is titled: “A Bill to Provide for Preventive Measures Against Entry into the State of Terrorists and Persons with Criminal Intentions, to Provide Security Checks on Immigrants and for Connected Purposes.”
It was sponsored by the member representing Okene II Constituency, Hon. Yusuf Zakeri Eneva, who presented the bill for debate before the House.
Opening the debate, Eneva said the proposed legislation seeks to regulate the influx of people into the state and ascertain their identities, while curbing banditry and kidnapping activities carried out by individuals who enter the state without proper identification.
He added that the bill would provide a framework for intelligence gathering and security profiling by law enforcement agencies, while creating non-kinetic measures to protect lives and property.
Leading the debate on the bill, Eneva said it was introduced in response to growing concerns over the infiltration of criminal elements through the state’s land borders.
He noted that Kogi’s strategic geographical location makes it vulnerable to security threats, as the state shares boundaries with more than ten states, stressing the need for a legal framework to monitor people residing within its territory.
Contributing to the debate, lawmakers commended the sponsor for initiating the legislation, saying recent security developments across the country had underscored the need for proactive measures to safeguard the peace and security of Kogi State.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Umar Aliyu, said drastic measures were required to ensure the safety of residents, stressing that such measures must be backed by law.
Aliyu commended Eneva for sponsoring the bill and urged the committee saddled with scrutinising the proposed legislation to develop effective measures that would support the government’s efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment for citizens and residents of the state.
