Press Releases

Fashola Presides Over Special Security Council Meeting As Police Boss Assures All Lagosians Of Safe Yuletide

Dec 22, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday presided over a special meeting of the State Security Council to review strategies put in place and arrangements made to ensure that all Lagosians have a safe yuletide period.

The Governor had called for Special meeting of the Council to review the Security Council to review the preparedness of the security agencies for the yuletide in furtherance of his determination to ensure the safety of life and property of every Lagos resident at all times.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting which took place at the Lagos House, Marina, State Commissioner for Police, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo said if a comparison is made of what obtained before and what is on ground now, there have been a lot of improvements, stressing that the Council intends to ensure greater improvement in due course.

Mr Akpoyibo also sought the collaboration of members of the public to police Lagos better, saying the people should be security conscious and should be their brother's keeper.

He added: "We have had cases where parents left their children in the hands of their wards carelessly and they took such children away and started demanding for money. They should always take personal interest in their own children. There are some responsibilities that you do not delegate"

"I would advise Lagosians to be more security conscious, take personal care of your kids and don't entrust them to the care of strangers. The children should also be advised not to take gifts from strangers, not to allow strangers pick them from school", he added.

He also advised people who will visit the various amusement parks and park their cars to ensure that they have tracking devices in the cars that will prevent such cars from being removed.

"If you suspect any movement whatsoever, you have the civic responsibility to alert the Police early enough because they say a stitch in time saves nine. We want to continually be proactive in Lagos State to ensure that life and property of everyone is safe", Mr Akpoyibo reiterated.

Explaining measures put in place to handle the high vehicular movement which would be experienced during the period, Mr Akpoyibo said the security agencies are getting prepared for that.

"In those days people leave Lagos to the villages to celebrate Christmas, but now the reverse is the case as people now leave the villages to come to Lagos to celebrate the Christmas and New Year and that shows there is more security in Lagos", he noted.

Continuing, the Police Commissioner declared: "We can't ask them to go back to their villages. People are coming here to take shelter, to enjoy themselves and do their business. They must be allowed to come in. Of course correspondingly; we should expect increase in traffic on our roads.

"We have put measures in place to ensure that when any heavy traffic builds up, there are plain clothes Policemen on ground to monitor and ensure the safety of all motorists", the Police Commissioner emphasized.

On his Christmas message to all Lagosians, Mr Akpoyibo said he wished them well, adding Lagosians should continue to collaborate with the security agencies.

"They should continue to collaborate with us, they have been wonderful. We have enjoyed their partnership and their collaborative efforts. This we must do continually, not seasonally. They must continue to partner with us to ensure safety of our life and property", he said.

Also present during the interview session were other members of the State Security Council like the Commander, 9th Brigade of Nigeria Army, Brigadier Sanusi Muazu, Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore J.K. Z Ango, Commander 435 BSG Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Ayo Abdulsalam and Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor, Major Tunde Panox (Rtd).