By Simeon OSAJIE
In continuation of its ongoing engagement meetings with relevant Government Authorities and Stakeholders towards securing their buy-in for the core mandate of the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee, the Management of the Committee led by its Chairman, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, in company of the Edo North Coordinator, Mr. Eshesimua Sunday Charles and other co-opted members, held a roundtable meeting with the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General AO Balogun, 4th Mechanized Brigade and his team at the Brigade Headquarters, Benin City.
Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture who highlighted the statutory functions of the Committee solicited the collaboration and synergy of the Brigade towards effective and productive statewide enforcement on the eradication of counterfeit products and the exploitation of consumers by private sector operators across Edo State.
He also appealed to the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General AO Balogun to provide security cover for the Committee’s activities and operations, so that the Committee can jointly realize the SHINE Agenda of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State.
Going further, the Committee Chairman used the opportunity to seek the approval of the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General AO Balogun for the Committee’s proposed sensitization and orientation program to be held inside some barracks in Edo State, aimed at educating personnel and their families on identification and avoidance of counterfeit products, especially food, drinks and drugs.
He also extended a formal invitation to the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General AO Balogun and his team to the Committee’s proposed Town Hall/Stakeholders Meeting scheduled for 29th September, 2026, emphasizing that the meeting is designed to assemble all critical Stakeholders to deliberate and resolve on global best standards for tackling the current challenges bedeviling our society, particularly those associated with counterfeit products and consumer exploitation.
In his response, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General AO Balogun stated that Health Security is a cardinal component of the Nigerian Army’s civil-military relations and promised to support and collaborate with the Committee within the ambit of the law in order to achieve its set mandate, which is in line with the SHINE Agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
In addition, the Brigadier, Brigadier AO Balogun assured that the Brigade will intervene whenever other sister security agencies are overwhelmed during enforcement operations.
The visit ended in a spirit of mutual partnership and commitment to consumer protection across the state, especially at flashpoints.