Anambra, Nigeria – Former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, launched a scathing attack on state governors, attributing the continued insecurity situation in Nigeria to their misuse of security funds.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Ojoto Ofala Festival in Anambra on Wednesday, Ngige accused governors of viewing security votes as personal pocket money, diverting them from their intended purpose and contributing to the prevailing security crisis.
“Security votes are meant to be spent by state governors to stabilize security in their different states,” Ngige emphasized, dispelling the notion that such funds are personal slush funds. “They are not pocket money, but some governors have converted them to personal money,” he declared, drawing a direct link between misappropriation and the deteriorating security situation.
Ngige highlighted the importance of proper utilization of security funds, stating, “Security is like information, publicity, when you are spending money on publicity, you won’t see it, it is not tangible, but you will see the effect. If you put stability in your security, you will see prosperity following it, because there will be economic activities.” He pointed out that insecurity has disrupted economic activities in the South-East zone for the past 18 months, exacerbated by non-state actors exploiting the situation.
The remarks delivered by Ngige to journalists represent a bold critique of state leadership and raise critical questions about accountability and resource allocation in tackling insecurity. His assertion that diverting security funds weakens the fight against crime and violence challenges governors to prioritize their responsibilities in ensuring public safety.
The issue of security vote usage has long been shrouded in opacity, with concerns about lack of transparency and oversight persisting. Ngige’s intervention, coming from a figure with experience in both state and federal administrations, adds fuel to the debate and demands a serious examination of how security resources are managed at the state level.
