The Kaduna State Government has begun positioning the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS) as a potential foundation for the proposed state police structure as constitutional debates on the initiative gain momentum nationwide.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu, disclosed this while declaring open a specialised training programme for personnel of the vigilance service in Kaduna.

The training was organised by The Kukah Centre in collaboration with Tetra Tech under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme.

According to Shu’aibu, the state government is taking proactive steps to enhance KADVIS’s operational capacity so it can serve as a take-off platform for state policing if the constitutional amendment establishing it is eventually approved.

He added that strengthening local security structures remains critical to improving safety and responding effectively to emerging security challenges across the state.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is very keen on the issue of state police. When the constitution is eventually reviewed, and state police becomes operational, where do we start from? You can rest assured it will start from here,” he said.

According to him, the state government has already reviewed the legal framework guiding KADVIS and developed standard operating procedures aimed at improving its operations.

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He explained that the review identified key gaps in the law establishing the service and produced recommendations that could further strengthen its institutional framework.

“We examined the law establishing KADVIS and identified areas that require strengthening. Experts have made recommendations which will guide the way forward, including possible presentation to the State House of Assembly,” the commissioner added.

Project Manager at The Kukah Centre, Bambi Tesse, said the training followed earlier engagements focused on strengthening the legal and operational frameworks of the vigilance service.

She explained that the programme would equip personnel with practical skills in areas such as crowd control, community relations, communication, gender inclusion, and emergency response.

Commander of KADVIS, retired Commissioner of Police Ali Audu Dabigi, said about 300 officers drawn from different command levels of the organisation would participate in the training.

Dabigi described the exercise as timely and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to enhance professionalism and improve security operations across Kaduna State. (The Nation)