By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The Imo State House of Assembly members have urged the Governor of the State to direct the Commissioner for Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture to mandate the Hoteliers, and other hospitality related businesses in the state to install, maintain, and operate functional CCTV Cameras.
The House made the call on Wednesday when the motion was moved by the member representing Aboh Mbaise state Constituency and Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie, which was seconded by Oguta lawmaker, Hon. Gilbert Nwosu.
Speaking on the motion, Amuchie pointed out that the motion seeks to redefine the security architecture of the state, adding that the rate of crime not only in Imo State, but all over the country is on the rampage.
He continued that most times perpetrators of such crime take off from the hotels and still come back there without being noticed due to lack of CCTV cameras.
” Hotels and hospitality industries in the State are naturally accustomed to receiving people from all walks of life and the tendency of mistaken identity in the event of when a crime is committed is inevitably unavoidable where CCTV camers are not available.
” People lodge in hotels with fake names, and some of them commit all sorts of crime, even kill their victims without being caught, and if this is not checked nobody knows who the next victim will be.
“So there is need for bars, event centers, hotels to have not just CCTV cameras but functional ones. I can remember a story of how a lady was murder by a guest who checked into a hotel with her. This and many more stories has been emanating from the hospitality centers which should be curtailed.
“There should also be regular checks to ensure that the hoteliers, and others keep to the rules of ensuring the cameras are working.
“Let us do this to aid the governor who has interest in the security and safety of Imolites.
Supporting the motion, the Owerri Municipal legislator – Rt. Hon. Clinton Amadi who suggested for the cameras to be solar based CCTV because of the power challenges in the country, stated, “this has passed the issue of motion, but should be presented as a Bill to be made a Law for the issue has been brought up in past Houses, but uptill now, it is still an issue. I am even working on presenting such bill.”
The Onuimo legislator, Hon. James Esile, stated that installation of the cameras are paramount in the state, as hotels are always the first point visitors go to when they come into a state, so there is need to secure such place.
If the cameras, he said are installed and made functional, then crime will be reduced to the bearest minimum, as footages can help the security agencies apprehend criminals.
The Ikeduru lawmaker, Hon. Iheoha Johnleoba stated that the motion is a very timely as the importance of CCTVs cannot be overemphasized.
He reiterated that one hardly see people that lodge in hotels use their actual names to registers, hence the need for the cameras.
Adding his voice, the Isiala Mbano legislator, Hon. Sam Osuji who appreciated in a special way the mover of the motion, noted that CCTVs are a must have.
He pleaded for churches, streets, roads, and anywhere that has to do with cluster of people to be included in the motion, citing that he went to a church and his phone was stolen and wasn’t recovered because there was no CCTV camera in that church.
“Whenever a crime was committed the CCTV is supposed to be the first check, but 70% of the hotels in Imo don’t have that, even when it is a condition for establishing hotel business.
The Ideato North lawmaker, Hon. Udeze Ugochukwu reiterated the need for it not to be limited to only hotels but to every establishment in Imo, saying that something happened in his office in Lagos and it was the CCTV camera he has that saved him from paying heavily for what he did not do.
Speaking against the motion, the Obowo lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibeh commended the Chief suppose of the motion, but noted, “if you keep doing the same thing all over again you will keep getting the same results.
“This issue has been presented in the 8, 9 and now the 10th house but it’s still been talked about. I am opposed to the motion because I believe we can do better which is to make it a Law. I advise the mover of the motion to make it a Bill that is all encompassing.
After the motion was accented to, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chyna Iwuanyanwu who presided over the House as the Speaker advised the mover of the motion to see that he works hand in hand with the Owerri Municipal legislator to make the motion a bill.
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