Press Releases

Joint Military Patrol To Be Deployed Soon In Lagos - Fashola

Aug 4, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday revealed that a Joint Military Patrol code named ‘Op-Mesa’ to combat crime in the state would soon be deployed to combat crime in the State following approval by President Umar Musa Yar’adua.

According to Governor Fashola who spoke at the Second Town Hall Meeting on Security and relaunch of the State Security Trust Fund at the Civic Centre, in Victoria Island, Mr. President has given the go ahead for the military to participate in the joint operation.

He also informed that the Inspector General of Police has approved the formation of a new mobile police squadron to cover the Lekki- Epe axis with the state housing the squadron in addition to providing vehicular and other logistics support.

He added that crime is a business whose perpetrators have become more creative as the government’s response gets more successful, adding that the growing size, complexity and dynamic nature of Lagos makes the challenges of crime never ending.

He recalled that as at when the first Town Hall Meeting was convened the state was in a dire situation as it was a period of the post election period of 2007 which had been compounded by years of under funding of the security agencies, especially the Police and the growing challenges of a more sophisticated and ruthless criminal community.

Governor Fashola while expressing gratitude to stakeholders in the private sector who had supported the fund however lamented that the contributors so far represents less than one twentieth of large and medium commercial outfits in Lagos which means that less than one twentieth of the number have been carrying the weight of nineteen twentieths.

While reiterating that the demand of security and law enforcement agencies on the state resources are a never ending one, he urged all those who have not contributed to the Trust Fund to consider contributing their widow’s mite.

“Ladies and gentlemen, these are the realities on ground and if we are to achieve that critical measure of irreducible minimum security standards to our mutual benefit and improved investment environment and quality of life, we have to do this together and on a continuous basis”.

Continuing, Governor Fashola said the basic inputs he enumerated earlier are not sufficient because “there are in addition issues of CCTV cameras, illumination of the streets and city black spots, marine patrol of the vulnerable water ways, air patrol and support, protection of public infrastructure such as the BRT system, school premises and expansion of existing telecommunications infrastructure with back up, better designed and equipped Police stations and area commands”.

Governor Fashola also informed that the state is reconstructing the area C Police station with a view to developing it to become a model for all area commands in the state.

He added that the state government also plans to install computers and digital cameras in all the 84 divisional headquarters in the state in addition to sustaining the payment of N25, 000 to each policeman that serves with the Rapid Response Squad in the state.

Governor Fashola added that “we remain committed to our vision to provide a brighter rewarding future in Africa’s model Mega city. We do not accept that any difficulties are insurmountable. We see opportunities where others are looking at challenges and we ask you to join us on this journey of great expectations to deliver a safer Lagos that will be the pride and favoured destination of Africa”.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo in his update on the security situation in Lagos and current challenges affirmed that Lagos Police Command has a zero tolerance level for crime and criminality in the state.

He identified new challenges being faced by the command to include the resort to the use of waterways by hoodlums in their desperate bid to attack business and residential premises including banks around Ikorodu-Epe-Ajah-VGC-Lekki-Victoria Island-Ikoyi axis.

Mr Akpoyibo added that the command has responded by ensuring high Police visibility, improvement in response time to distress calls and a systematic mopping-up of illicit arms and taking adequate measures to prevent their continued proliferation, as well as an aggressive deployment of ‘E’-Policing strategy.

The Executive Secretary of the Security Trust Fund, Mr Fola Arthur- Worrey in his report informed that out of the 250 vehicles that were received by the Fund as at October 2007, 225 have been distributed to the RRS, the Lagos State Police Command, the Army, Navy and the Air Force in addition to the donation of one Ford Ranger 4 & 4 to Meiran Police Station.

He said these are in addition to about 25 RRS branded Toyota Hilux vehicles safely parked as back up and replacement vehicles for the RRS fleet as well as procurement of additional equipment and ballistic gear.

He also revealed that the Fund has received a number of proposals such as for the provision of two 100 and 350 KVA generators for the Police Hospital in Falomo as well as a request from the State Command for the purchasing of a new building to house Bode Thomas Police Station where a quit notice has been served.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, Mr Remi Makanjuola expressed a feeling of fulfilment with the level of success so far achieved with the judicious usage of the funds citing the example of the establishment of the 767 emergency response line.

He urged the banks and financial institutions to advertise the 767 emergency line in newspapers and radio adverts as part of their corporate social responsibility.

In his goodwill message, the Managing Director of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mr Moyo Jacobs Ajekigbe commended the Lagos State Government for being bold to render an account of stewardship of the Fund, saying it represents a departure from the normal and usual.

He also advised the Lagos State Government to consider introducing a new security levy which all business outfits operating in the State would contribute to , as a means of ensuing that all organisations contribute to the fund.

Also speaking, foremost industrialist, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas advised that Governor Babatunde Fashola should write personally to all business organisations in Lagos asking for their assistance in sustaining the Security Trust Fund, insisting that people would buy into the programme more substantially.

The Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Babatunde Rilwan Akiolu 1 commended all organisations who have contributed to the fund so far ,asking that everyone should support the initiative again as it would go a long way in securing Lagos for everyone.

Substantial donations were realised at the ceremony with Access bank Plc pledging a sum of N100Million, Nigerian Stock Exchange N10 Million while the Coscharis group donated 10 pick up vehicles in addition to several other donations and promises from individuals and organisations.