By Okechukwu Jombo
The Enugu State Government has finalized plans to launch the Enugu State Security Trust Fund (ESSTF) as part of Governor Peter Mbah’s proactive measures to enhance security in the State. Holding at the State capital, Enugu, on Thursday 17 October 2024, the primary objective of the ESSTF is to provide support to security agencies operating within the State through equipping them with the necessary crime-fighting accessories and resources.
Inaugurated in February 2024, Gov. Mbah appointed experienced and diverse Enugu State personalities to the Board of Trustees, chaired by Dr. Ike Chioke, Group Managing Director of Afrinvest (West Africa), with Engr. Chinedu Ani, a distinguished telecommunications professional, as Executive Secretary.
“The Security Trust Fund is in line with what we have expressed in our manifesto when we were seeking the mandate of our people to serve them,” Gov. Mbah had said, adding that “We promised them that Enugu will be one of the top three States in terms of GDP and, of course, we said it is going to happen from private sector investment; and attracting private sector investment requires that you have the enabling environment.”
To secure Enugu State by combating security issues such as kidnapping, armed robbery, herders/farmers conflicts, cultism, thuggery, and cybercrime, Dr. Chioke said the fund will enable the creation of a central security coordination point, which will help strengthen the state’s security infrastructure and combat the multifaceted issues of insecurity across the state. “ESSTF is a public-private partnership established in response to the need to improve the security of Enugu State while fostering development and prosperity for its residents,” he said.
With the vision to secure Enugu State, ESSTF’s mission is to achieve that through strategic funding, collaborative partnerships, and innovative security solutions. To implement this, ESSTF will be committed to effective stakeholder engagement, responsible management of funds, fostering communal service through stewardship, working transparently, being open, ensuring reliability, and striving for excellence at all times.