Press Releases

Security Improving In Lagos Says Fashola As Access Bank Donates N100M

Aug 21, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday asserted that the security situation in the State is improving but could get better if everyone supports the efforts of government.

Governor Fashola who spoke at his Alausa Oval Office when he received the senior management of Access Bank Plc led by the Managing Director, Mr Aigboje Imoukhuede which came to redeem its pledge made at the Second Town Hall meeting organized by the State government added that the problem of security is not sectoral but one which affects everybody and must be tackled from a communal perspective.

He said: “The issue of security is communal and not an individual problem which should not be restricted to a particular sector. All of the lawyers, the private businessmen, market women, and teachers should join us to arrest the problem”.

Imploring everyone who feels concerned about the security challenge to support it with donations, the Governor reiterated that just as the State Government thankfully received the donation of N100Millon from Access Bank; it would also gladly receive a small envelope containing one naira from any member of the public.

He promised that the state government would continue to ensure that it presents the best to the people of Lagos in terms of security which he explained is about numbers and people.

The Lagos State helmsman asserted that the capacity of the state to effectively Police the state and discharge its duties on security depends on the resources available to work with, which he described as very limited.

He added that Lagos is currently under budgeted due to paucity of funds insisting that a government can only budget for what it has the capacity to finance, informing that the Fire department of the State of New York with a similar population strength like Lagos gets an annual budget of $2.8Billion.

Governor Fashola explained that when these figure which represents over 55 percent of the budget of Lagos State is compared to how much it costs the State of New York to fund its Police with its array of sophisticated equipments and facilities to combat crime, a clearer picture of what Lagos State needs to combat crime would be arrived at.

He informed that the scenario painted underscores the enormity of the challenge that the Lagos State Government and the Police Command is contending with in order to secure life of everyone.

While thanking Access Bank for the donation, Governor Fashola said it has come forth because the individual directors of the bank have bought into the best practices of the state and convinced the board on the need to make the donation.

He promised that all such donations would be properly documented and accounted for by the State Government.

The Governor also expressed his appreciation to the National Communication Commission (NCC) for the reactivation of the toll free 767 emergency response line for the use of members of the public.

He enjoined members of the public to make use of the number in any emergency situation as it is a toll free 24–hour service line which has been paid for from the proceeds of the State Security Trust Fund.

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Aigboje Imoukhuede had informed that the management was at Alausa to redeem its promise at the relaunch of the State Security Trust Fund recently.

He commended the Governor for ensuring that Lagos is fast regaining its peace in such a way that banks in the state can successfully operate for a year without any incidences of attacks on bullion vans or bank branches occurring.

He pledged the readiness of the bank to respond to similar calls in the future and charged the Governor to maintain the momentum which he has started since he got on to the saddle of leadership.

It would be recalled that as part of efforts to improve the capability of the law enforcement agencies to fight crime through a collaboration with the private sector, Governor Babatunde Fashola had earlier launched the State Security Trust Fund on October 3, 2007 while the relaunch and Second Town Hall meeting on security took place on August 4, 2008.