Press Releases

Fashola Hands Over Equipments To Police, Pleads For Civil Handling Of Citizens

Oct 13, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday took a major step ahead in his quest to make Lagos safer for its inhabitants by donating Ten Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), 1000 AK 47 rifles, Two million rounds of ammunition and 1000 bullet proof vests to the men of the State Rapid Response Squad.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony which took place at the open grounds of the Lagos House, Ikeja and which also had the Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro and other top Police officers in attendance, Governor Fashola urged Policemen to ensure that their primary responsibility of crime prevention is carried out in a firm and civil manner, appealing that weapons should not be turned on the citizens whose taxes have been used in procuring the equipments.

He added that the crime detection capacity of law enforcement agencies must be improved, saying, “We must ensure that no errors are made and even where errors are made, it must be errors to save lives”.

The Governor said the donation of the equipment should not be seen as the end in terms of equipment provision by the State but just the beginning of the quest to guarantee safety of life and property.

Governor Fashola said the provision of equipment and logistics alone is not the solution to the upsurge in crime but that a balance should be struck in terms of opportunities and options for those who might have been driven into crime by economic difficulties.

He explained that the present administration has been ensuring that those who might have been driven into crime by economic conditions have the option of getting gainfully employed through the usage of every opportunity to create jobs and encourage the people to gain skills.

He said some days ago over 4000 youths benefitted from the micro credit scheme of the programme of the state government by getting loans worth over N250millionwith an additional 5000 school students getting holiday job employment from the state during the last vacation exercise.

Governor Fashola also informed that the Military Joint Patrol code named Operation Messa (OP-MESSA) has fully commenced operation, telling criminally minded people in the state that the time to give up the act is now.

Said he:”We are ready and will assist those who have the intention of doing legitimate business in Lagos to earn a living while we will fight those who intend to live by criminality”.

He warned commercial motorcycle operators in the state not to take the state hospitality for a weakness as henceforth law enforcement agents have been empowered to arrest any Okada that carries more than one passenger at a time.

He restated that the prohibition on Okada operation in some area especially at night still remains in force, adding that reports on crime across the state indicates that it is getting better but that activities of Okada riders remains a major source of concern to the state.

Governor Fashola informed that the pilot scheme of the security cameras to be deployed all over Lagos will be activated in a couple of weeks just as work is progressing on the security centre base at Alausa to serve as the main collation centre for security in Lagos.

The Lagos State helmsman also said the state is thinking of strengthening the Air wing of the Nigerian Police by providing equipment where possible just as a few boats have been procured for the Marine wing of the Police in other to ensure that criminals have no hiding place on all frontiers in Lagos.

He urged the people to emulate the gesture of a private citizen who recently donated three boats to the Marine Police to enable it function more effectively, saying the problem of security should be seen as everybody’s problem.

He added that the handing over of the sophisticated equipments is indicative of the seriousness of the present government in Lagos to protect lives and would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of corporate organizations and Nigerians in general, urging those who have not done so to come forward with their widows mite.

He expressed appreciation to President Umar Musa Yar’Adua and the National Security Adviser for facilitating the approval of the importation of the equipment and also singled out the Inspector General of Police for believing in his promise to hand over the equipments to the Police immediately Lagos takes delivery of them.

Governor Fashola also commended the Lagos House of Assembly for partnering with the state Government by passing the law which gave teeth to the state security trust fund.

Governor Fashola also during the programme received a cheque of N100Million donated to the State Security Trust Fund by Sterling Bank Plc and presented by the Bank’s Managing Director, Mr Yemi Adeola.

Earlier in his address, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro said with the donation by Lagos State Government a clear signal is being sent to criminals and other miscreants in Lagos to pack their luggage and relocate out of Lagos or change their behavior and become better citizens.

He added that by handing over the operational equipment, the present administration in Lagos is making a bold step to reaffirm the economic vision of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to transform the state into a megacity.

He assured that the equipments would be put to proper and maximum use to prevent crime in the state citing the example of bank robbery recently foiled by alert policemen using APC at WEMA Bank, Agege branch.

In his comments on the occasion, Managing Director of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Yemi Adeola called on everyone to see it as a duty to ensure that robbers no more have the opportunity of having a field in our lives.

He said the bank is proud of what the Lagos State Security Trust Fund has so far done and encouraged Governor Fashola to continue with the goof job he is doing while calling on all corporate bodies to play a role in ensuring the security of life and property of all.

Also present at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, members of the state executive council, the Assistant Inspector General of Police zone 2, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, State Police Commissioner Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, the Chairman of the Security Trust Fund, Mr. Remi Makanjuola and several other dignitaries.