Fashola Gives Security Equipment, 300 Trained Police Drivers To Command

 

 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle) 

 

 

The government handed over 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 50 patrol vans, a mobile workshop, 200 bullet proof vests,100 Walkie- Talkies and 300 newly trained police drivers to the State Police Command with a charge that the items be used to get Lagosians more secured and live better in the state.
Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who led the State Executive Council members to perform the gesture at the Lagos House Car Park used the occasion to call for a deepening of the commitment and partnership with the private sector as it was done in the past to secure the state.

“It will benefit all of us if citizens, every individual make security his business and make a voluntary contribution to the Security Trust Fund. We did it before and the results were pleasant and beneficial in many ways; we can do again,” he said.
The governor noted that the state government was committed to security because it is the most critical infrastructure that must be provided for business and economy to thrive.
Governor Fashola, who lamented the regrettable and abject neglect of the Nigerian Police, its men and women by the different regimes of the nation’s national government, explains that this made it necessary for many state Governments who understand the importance of security and who place the appropriate premium and priority on human lives and law and order to fund a responsibility that is not constitutionally theirs.
Said he: “It is indeed a tragedy that in spite of this abdication of responsibility, the PDP-led Federal government stands tongue in cheek to oppose the establishment of State Police.
“Nigerians must truly think deep and reflect on the choices that lie before them about how to resolve the security challenges that confront the nation.”.
He said all the equipment were provided through direct funding by the State Government through supplementary budget appropriations by the State House of Assembly.
He said the present administration in the State at its inception promised a special allowance to all Policemen of the Rapid Response Squad posted to the state and has not defaulted in paying the special allowance to each one of them.
The governor stated that this is in addition to the provision of a global insurance cover for all the men and officers of the RRS in terms of accidents and disability and added that though the State has lost some officers on duty, insurance have been paid to them.
Governor Fashola explained that in the course of his trip to the United Kingdom last week, the Oxford University shared with him the result of a study that they conducted in Lagos which revealed that investment by the government in security has been pivotal to the success of businesses and the economy of Lagos.
“This is at least a reinforcement of the innovative thinking of this government to set up the State Security Trust Fund which has radically improved the capacity of the police to secure our state”.
“Year on year, since 2007, we have remained true to the commitment we made to improve security in the State by continuously investing in the welfare of security personnel and renewing and replacing their equipment and vehicles which depreciate by daily wear and tear”, he explained.
He acknowledged the support of the Police High Command and particularly the Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim who not only donated gunboats for the use of the state on its waterways but also approved the creation of five new area commands in the state.
The governor informed that designs for the new area commands have been completed and would be factored into the 2012 Budget, stressing that the area commands are already operating with what they have on ground.