ENUGU STATE GOVT UNVEILS UNTH NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

By: UGWUOKE FELIX AND OKWUOWULU IFEBUCHE.

The Enugu State Government under His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, has inaugurated the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla Enugu Neighbourhood Watch. The event which took place on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, is designed to boost the overall security of the hospital.

Addressing the hospital community and other guests at UNTH Cafeteria Hall venue of the occasion, the representative of the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Human Capital Development and Poverty Reduction, and the Head of Department, Neighbourhood Watch Association, Hon. Uchenna Ozomgbach, said that his purpose of coming is to inaugurate the Association, and he also used the opportunity to thank the Management UNTH for taking the bold step to secure lives and properties in the hospital.

*The representative of the Commissioner, Ministry of Human Capital Development, and Head, Neighbourhood Watch Association, Hon. Uchenna Ozomgbach, presenting the certificate of registration to CMD.*

He advised the UNTH Neighborhood Watch on code of conduct. He further said that, “Now, you have the power to arrest, but ensure to hand over to the Police within the shortest possible time for prosecution”. “If you see any suspicious movement, alert the security on ground to inform the police”.

The Chief Medical Director, Professor Obinna Onodugo thanked the State for making security a priority in the State and assisting the hospital to overcome its challenges.
He maintained that security is paramount in achieving the goal of rendering quality service to the people. According to Prof. Onodugo, “if you like, have the most dedicated staff, sophisticated machine, equipment, without security you are nowhere”. He encouraged every member of the hospital community to be security conscious and to report any suspicious movement to the appropriate quarter.

*Prof. Obinna Onodugo, CMD, delivery his speech during the inauguration of UNTH Neighborhood Watch.*

Speaking further, he said in my town Abbor, I am a member of Neighborhood watch group and it is compulsory in Abbor for all able-bodied men to be member. He therefore said that all stakeholders: the doctors, nurses, host communities, heads of departments and all staff are members.
Continuing, he urged every staff to say something if they see something.”
He went further to inform the audience that his administration is already mounting sophisticated CCTV cameras in strategic locations with alarm facilities that will alert security men on ground any time there is a security breach.

*L-R: Mr. Emma Okoro, Acting DFA, Prof. Joy Eze, Prof. Obinna Onodugo and Mrs. Uche Obi.*

Speaking of the need for human capacity to drive the system, he said that all these efforts will fail if we do not have men on ground to police the environment, and that is the essence of commissioning the Neighbourhood watch Association.

*CSP John Igele, DPO Ozalla, addressing the audience during the inauguration of UNTH Neighborhood Watch.*

In his own contribution, the Deputy Police Officer, (DPO), in charge of Ozalla Police Station, CSP John Igele, who represented the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, advised the newly inaugurated Neighbourhood Watch Association in UNTH to do their work in line with rules and regulations guiding the Neighbourhood Watch Association.” He encouraged them to be diligent and not to flout the rules guiding the Association else, they will have themselves to blame: “You may be doing your work deligently but once you go contrary to the rules governing the Association, then you are on your own”, he advised.

He promised to work with them, stressing that the work they are doing is part of his responsibilities.
Reiterating the need for collaboration and effective communication between the Association and his office, he advised them to bring any issue they may have relating to their work, to me through your Chief Security Officer or call me if it is very urgent.
Mr. Igele promised to train members of the Association on handling of arms. He equally appealed to UNTH Management to provide them with working materials for effective performance.

In his address, the Chief Security Officer of UNTH, Mr. Cletus Orji thanked Prof. Obinna Onodugo for all the things he has been doing in UNTH especially the support and attention he has given to the Security department. He thanked the Management for changing their uniforms early this year. It is also a thing of joy to us that today, you are commissioning the Neighbourhood Watch Association in UNTH.
Mr. Orji used the forum to appeal to the general staff of UNTH to guard their working materials properly. He regretted that some staff will not lock their offices after close of work thereby exposing their working materials like laptops.

*Mr. Cletus Orji, Head of the Security Department, UNTH, shares his ideas during the inauguration of UNTH Neighborhood Watch.*

The climax of the occasion was the handing over of Neighbourhood watch certificate and constitution to the Chief Medical Director and the oath administration to the members of the Neighbourhood watch.

The occasion was graced by UNTH Management team, CMAC, DA, Deputy CMACS, Heads of departments, Coordinators of Neighborhood Watch in Nkanu West, Agwu, Ituku and Ozalla, some Union leaders who also pledged their solidarity to management on the formation of the Association and members of staff.

L-R: Mrs. Uche Obi, CSP John Igele, DPO, Ozalla and Mr. Cletus Orji, Head, Security Department, UNTH.

There was a group photograph at the end of the inauguration consisting of UNTH Management team, members of Human Capital Development and Poverty Eradication, DPO of Ozalla, Heads of departments and coordinators of Neighborhood watch drawn from within Agwu.