Bill for Public Safety Vigilance Passes 2nd reading…as C”ttee on Transport committed to consider Clauses

By Alex Ibeh

A bill seeking to provide for Imo Public Safety Surveillance passed a second reading, Wednesday during Plenary at the State legislative chamber, Owerri.

The bill sponsored by the member representing Orsu State Constituency Hon. Uche Agabiga and 7 other lawmakers.

The bill proposes that an Authorized person which means individuals or entities authorized by the Government to install, monitor, and maintain the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system in public places.

The bill also proposes that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and Engineering Services should ensure that CCTV is installed in all public places in the State to capture both the inside and the surrounding premises where it is installed.

According to the bill, the Authorized persons include Property owners, landlords, Business owners, medium and large-scale businesses, Park Managements, recreational centers, worship centers, Estate Companies, Government establishments, including State and Local Government Secretariat, offices of State and Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State.

The bill warned, “any person who without legal authority remove, destroy, redirect, the position or tamper with a CCTV system installed or mounted in any public place commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000.00 or two years imprisonment”.
“Any owner of public place who fails, refuses or neglects to install CCTV system commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a fine of N1,000,0000.00 Naira or three years imprisonment and sealing up the premises.”
“In case of corporate body, such shall be liable to a fine of N1,000,000.00 and sealing up of the premises until compliance with the provision of this law.”

“Any owner of the private home or premises who uses the camera to take picture of any person(s) for the purpose of intimidating, blackmailing or to cause any form of disrepute to such person, commits an offense and on conviction, shall be liable to a fine of N300, 000.00 or one year imprisonment or both.”

“In the case of criminal activities within or outside any public place, the owner of such place shall release the CCTV Camera footage to security agents to help their investigation”
“Failure to provide the CCTV Camera footage to security agents will result in being arrested as an accomplice to the crime.

Leading in the debate, Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri, Co sponsor of the bill, cited No.6 of the proposed law, reminded the house that the CCTV footage which is supervised by an authorized operators could be used to detect crime. He added that most times, innocent persons could be interrogated but according to him, the CCTV footage is a device used to detect the real culprit.

Others who lent their voices supported the proposed law as they elaborated on its important both in security and economical values to the state.

When the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe put the bill to voice, the “ayes” were louder than the “nays” as he ruled in favour of “ayes”.

Olemgbe who referred the bill to the House Committee on Transport for its scrutiny the bill clause by clause and report back to House commended his colleagues for their inputs during the debate.

Interacting with House of Assembly Correspondents shortly after the Plenary, Agabiga highlighted several benefits of the bill when been passed, said it would enhance public safety and security, adding that it would assist in prevention and detecting crimes and violence when it happened.

He added that it would provide evidence to law enforcement agents and for Judicial purposes.

He noted that the installations of CCTV is a way to guarantee security for Imo residents and visitors.