A governorship aspirant of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Mr John Nwosu, has said that the new Anambra Homeland Security Law is susceptible to abuse by private security operatives.
In a press statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Nwosu described the law as largely good but criticized the delay in its enactment and the reluctance of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to acknowledge that protecting and securing lives and property in Anambra is the primary responsibility of the government.
He said: “The Soludo administration continues to exhibit its cluelessness in matters of governance. We hope that the implementation of this law will not overreach, thus further compounding a deeply troubling security situation in the state.
“As belated as the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 is, it is salutary and points in the right direction, but only if faithfully implemented and certain oblique provisions of the law are not abused.
“The greater danger lies in the functions that may be arrogated to private security companies and relevant government agencies to enhance security operations, even with the guardrail checks provided.”
Nwosu further noted: “It boggles the mind, however, that in passing the law, the ANSG (Anambra State Government) did not acknowledge and accept its primary constitutional ‘responsibility to protect’ Anambra State citizens and residents. Such an oversight is telling and unfurls the prevailing didactic leadership mindset.”
He argued that a fundamental flaw in the law is that the state government appears to abdicate its responsibility, instead shifting it to local government leaders, community leaders, and traditional rulers.
“The implicit and explicit lack of reference or acknowledgment of government’s functions in this regard, coupled with the fact that most tasks under the law devolve on local governments, traditional rulers, municipalities, communities, and private security companies, is rather troubling. Talk of passing the buck!
“The prevailing crisis of wanton brutality and dehumanization being meted out by private companies acting as agents of the ANSG in the tax collection and waste management sectors should have informed the need for better clarity in defining the role of armed private security companies.
“In governance, language matters. There is a vast difference between the state ‘recognizing the critical need’ and ‘acknowledging its constitutional role’ or acting ‘in keeping with its constitutional responsibility,’” he said.