Press Releases

Adopt Best Practices, Fashola Advises Security Agencies

Nov 28, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday gave recipes for security management under a democracy in the country, saying the way to go was to adopt best practices from anywhere in the world.

Governor Fashola, who spoke while receiving the members of Course 1 of the Nigerian Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said as a result of the complex nature of security in a democratic setting, security agencies in the country should seek new ways to approach and solve security situations in a more efficient manner.

He told the members, led by the Director of Studies and team leader of Course 1 of the Institute, Mr. Ekpenyong E Ita, “As you strategize on security management in a democracy, you must know that security is getting more complex and you cannot use old methods to solve new security situations”, adding that it has become necessary to seek new approaches to security management.

The Governor further advised, “Wherever we see best practices anywhere around the world, let us swallow our pride and find out how it is done”, adding that whether it is in Ghana or America, France or any other country around the world that such practices are being used, “we should ask them to bring their experts here to run a course for our people”.

According to the Governor, when such experts are brought into the country to run courses instead of sending our own people abroad, the country benefits both in terms of cost effectiveness and economically as the experts will have to lodge in Nigerian hotels and pay for services while in the country.

On how his administration has been able to record remarkable success in the development of the State, Governor Fashola, who attributed it to the strength of team work, said the credit for success must go to the strong and passionate public servants who, according to him, are ready to work beyond the call of duty.

“Whatever success you credit to us is certainly not my own doing. It is the doing of those I work with. I have been lucky to work with a strong and very passionate Civil Service, officers who are ready to work beyond the call of duty”, Governor Fashola said, adding that they had been able to build themselves into a strong team,

The Governor said the administration has further advanced this strategy by engaging in constant meetings, trainings and retreats, pointing out that through such constant interactions, the problems of the different departments and individual officers are shared and solutions found.

He said the fortnightly meetings, constant trainings and retreats have helped the administration “to breakdown barriers and structures that do not support how we do business”, adding, “We are emphasizing that every government should be run like a corporation”.

Also attributing the successes partly to the people of the State Governor Fashola declared, “In a democratic setting, the challenges can be as onerous as they can be easy. We are lucky that in this State, the people got the government and people they voted for and this has helped us”, pointing out that the people are fully involved in the governance of the State.

He said through personal calls and e-mails from the citizens who report on important developmental issues the administration gets to know how and when to react to situation at all times, adding, “We do not feel bordered by such calls. We see it as vote of confidence and those are issues that affect how we react”.

Governor Fashola, who said he had to interrupt a Finance meeting of the State to receive the visitors, commended the security agencies in the country for their efforts to keep the nation secure, pointing out that it is only under a secure atmosphere that other businesses could thrive.

“We are not in an ideal security situation, far from that, but majority are doing their best”.

Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Leader of the delegation and Director of Course 1 of the Institute, Mr., Ekpenyong E. Ita, had congratulated Governor Fashola for what he called “Your Development Strides” saying he was suprised while driving along Ikorodu Road and some other roads around the city due to the tremendous transformation they have undergone under the present administration.

Making particular reference to the Greening Programme of the administration, Ita declared, “I could hardly find my way again around the city due to the great transformation that you have done. The people of Lagos State have not made any mistake in making you Governor”. He also made reference to the sophisticated medical equipment now adorning the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital which he referred to as world class

The Director who said the Course 1, comprising of security officers from the SSS, NDLEA, the Police, Prisons, DSS and other government security services in the country, has members not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), disclosed that the purpose of their visit was to hear how the Governor has been able to transform Lagos in so short a time.

“The theme of our Course is “Challenges of Security Management in a Democratic Dispensation”. We are here to learn how you have been able to transform Lagos in so short a time”, the Director said, pointing out that such transformation has touched all sectors of the State’s economy including Education and Health,

Also present at the occasion were the Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Director of State Security Service, Lagos State, Mr. Ibrahim Audu and some members of the State Executive Council.