30th January, 2018
The Man O’ War, Nigeria, a voluntary association, on Tuesday in Abuja solicited the support of state governors to enable the association contribute in ensuring peace and unity across the country.
A cross section of the state commanders of the association made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The Man O’ War, which is an association under the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (C<C), a Parastatal in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, is aimed at training and moulding Nigerian youths on good leadership.
Mr Joel Attah, the Nasarawa State Commander, appealed to the Nasarawa State Government to create an enabling environment for them to ensure peace and progress in the state, even though the association was a voluntary one.
He promised to work with security agencies in the state to ensure that youths roaming the streets causing unnecessary tension are curbed and reformed.
“Man O’ War has been in existence for a number of years, our activities are more noticed in the various orientation camps for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across the country.
“We help in training youths for good leadership and peaceful coexistence irrespective of their tribal differences or religious backgrounds.
“We also work with security agencies to achieve some of the state government’s policies that will bring peace and unity in our respective host communities,’’ he said.
According to Attah, the association is faced with some challenges such as lack of funds to run its affairs in accordance with the code of conduct and the constitution of the Man O’ War.
He promised to offer an open door policy for meaningful contributions as well as to ensure growth and development in the state.
Similarly, Mr Mba Ogbonnaya, Lagos State Commander, said that the Organisation has been working as a support service to the security network in all the 37 Local Government Councils and LCDA in the state.
“Members of Man O’ War have served as a good information channel to the security agencies. Another area we are working is to support in reducing the incidences of boat mishaps to a barest minimum.
“Man O’ War is a water based Organisation. We are presently working with Operation Crocodile Smile, the army and we are going a long way.
“The Lagos state government has engaged a lot of our men, especially around the Lekki area, to help in ensuring peace and security in the state.
“They have employed about 80 of our members which they pay monthly and they have been on that road consistently for five years now. That is why you are seeing sanity in Lekki today.
“We are part of the Task force and management team; also, other MDAs are having some of our men as their civic security support service to generate revenue,’’ he said.
Ogbonnaya appealed to the governor to do more by ensuring that all the Local Governments involve at least 20 to 30 of their members to work for their residents.
The Anambra State Commander, Mrs Rosemary Amene, said it was not easy leading men of different calibre, but expressed satisfaction for a massive support she received from them during her first tenure of six months.
She said the association has not received any support from the state governor, but has been running the affairs of the association through monthly contribution by its members.
“Most of our members are workers. So if we have training or events that require money, we task ourselves. We also receive little percentage from the NYSC.’’
Mr Eyo John, FCT State Commander, however, said that the association has been working with the security agencies, despite that the association has not been commissioned.
He further stated that funding has been their major problem and urged state governors to provide an enabling environment and support in whichever way they could for the association to thrive.
Jonal Bawa, Director-General, (C<C) inaugurated the 38 newly appointed Man O’ War Commanders for 36 states, FCT and Nigeria Railway Command in Abuja on Jan. 20.