CRS to collaborate with UNDP on arms control
Emmanuel Alfred
In a bid to regulate the spread of arms in border communities, the Cross River State Government has decided to collaborate with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to introduce a programme that will deal with matters of security in border communities and controlling the use of small arms in the State.
This was made known when a delegation of the UNDP paid a working visit to the Cross River State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation (MIDC) on Monday, November 21, 2022, in her office in Calabar.
According to the Comptroller-General for the South-South Center, Maj. Gen Martin Obot (rtd), the delegation was in the State to intimate the Commissioner of its entry to the State to liaise and undertake the programme.
Speaking also about the programme, the Head, Centre for Control of Small Arms and Programme Analyst for the UNDP, Mr. Jonathan Madaki noted that the core mission was to reduce the use of small arms around border communities of the state as a means of securing the areas.
Mr Madaki added that the delegation was delighted to meet with the leadership of the Ministry as the coordinating MDA in the State saying that the collaboration will make the task much easier and achievable.
In her remarks, Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong described the mission as a timely intervention considering the possible hike in social vices during this festive season.
Dr Asibong then thanked the delegation over the planned partnership in securing border villages and suburbs in the State, reiterating that Cross River State is relatively peaceful when compared with others and should remain so.
The Commissioner specially acknowledged efforts of the UNDP on interventionist policies in the State, highlighting the Hydro Power Project at the Obudu Ranch Resort and lots more as case studies.
She also noted that the programme is key as regards the hosting of the Carnival Calabar as the state anticipates the influx of visitors to grace the carnival in the days ahead, while pledging Governor Ben Ayade’s unalloyed resolve to the successful implementation of the programme in the State.
The session had critical functionaries among who were the representative of the CSOs Mrs Doris Okzia, UNDP Consultant Josephine Aba, the Chief Programme Officer for Security Intelligence, the Director of Administration of the MIDC and other management staff.
