Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged to collaborate with the south-west region in order to secure and make the state a safer place for residents.
Sanwo-Olu said that the issues of security need partnerships to keep it safe.” Security is everybody’s business, strong intelligence is needed to combat crime as well as technology playing a major role ‘
Sanwo-Olu who made this statement during the 13th annual town hall meeting of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos , commended the efforts of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund ( LSSTF) for revitalising security coverage,though it’s constant donations and innovative strategy employed to tackle security challenges in the state.
He added that the state would continue
to intensify efforts to check the menace of traffic robbery, cultism, and other crimes in some trouble-spots in the State.
He stated that the LSSTF had provided an integrated end to end security solutions to some of the violent crime through its innovative technology and digital connectivity.
He added that despite the introduction of new security strategies to combat crime, security has to be improved as he realized the strong connections between infrastructure and security apparatus.
Sanwo-Olu promised to work with the organization to upgrade infrastructure across the state, which he said would be achieved in the next few months with significant improvements on security.
“There is a need to redesigned the security architecture of the state, using smart security devices to analyze crime”.
More so, he said the government would build a stronger and enabling rapid response team on security where it would derive new data room, security cameras installation and training the various agencies to work together using advanced communication tools to curb crime.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted some of the projects the government embarked on, such as equipping the security personnel which he said more would be done in that regard as well as completing a police station at Ibeche; equipped with first-class and modern facilities.
He explained why he intended to collaborate with other southwest States, basically due to cross border crime and preventing those who had committed crimes in a particular state to have easy access to another state. The borders would have Patrol Security with a model designed to keep it safe. Sanwo-Olu frowned in a hostile manner society treats security agencies, adding despite the unfriendly attitude of people towards them, they do a very difficult job.
“He said five days ago, the security personnel was involved in an accident and his legs were amputated.
“Also, a sad incident that happened on Monday that claimed the life of LASTMA official, who was stoned with a heavy stone, this should be addressed. There would be stiffer punishment for offenders”, he noted.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of, LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, said the initiative has helped in no small measure to address the state’s peculiar security situation through the prompt provision of necessary professional and logistical support for the various security agencies in the state to operate seamlessly. Being the commercial nerve center of Nigeria, and indeed West Africa, Lagos has its peculiar security challenges. Its sheer human density driven by an increasing population due to endless survival and economic-driven immigration makes it naturally attractive to criminal activities.
” But the coming of the LSSTF really assisted in swiftly addressing some of the state’s most critical security concerns.
“It will be recalled that on 3rd September 2007, the Lagos State government established the LSSTF as a public-private partnership framework for mobilising and providing equipment and resources for effective operations of security agencies in the state. Balogun said the LSSTF was a practical response to the reality of the operational deficiency of the various security agencies within the state, particularly with respect to funding and provision of modern equipment.
“With the realisation that the huge demands of security can no longer be met by government alone, the LSSTF is primarily conceived to institutionalise an enduring public/private approach to security challenges in the state. “The law setting up the Trust Fund provides for the structure, funding, decision making and accountability procedures for the Trust Fund. “The main goal of the Trust Fund is to provide money for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment and such human, material and financial resources as shall be found necessary for the effective functioning of all Federal, State, Local Government and other security agencies operating in the State and part of the Fund shall be reserved for the training and retraining of security personnel.
He said without a doubt, the setting up of the LSSTF is another laudable initiative from a State renowned for its several pace-setting feats and it has really helped to provide a creative strategy for the state’s diverse security concerns. With regular provision of training and critical security equipment such as surveillance helicopters, operational vehicles, motorbikes, arms and ammunition, patrol boats, Armoured Personnel Carriers among others crucial operational needs to relevant security agencies in the state, crime rate in the state has no doubt, been on the progressive decline in the last 12years. Consequently, most hitherto notorious areas in the state have become safer for the citizens to carry out their lawful daily activities without any fear.
Chairman of the LSSTF, Mr. Oye Hassan Odukale, stressed that every investment in public security by any government is a priceless one. Universally, security is an essential duty of any government. This is quite understandable. Insecurity leads to chaos and anarchy which ultimately undermines every genuine effort to transform the society. Odukale added that public security remains a primary duty that any government is obliged to offer to all of its citizens on an equal basis, irrespective of class, wealth, position, tribe, religion, or any other such classifications.
He said that the main goal of public security is to ensure the protection of the citizenry against all activities that could endanger lives and properties.
