The Lagos State government has expressed its commitment to re-strategize and restructure all security apparatus to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu stated this at the 15th annual Security Town hall in Victoria Island, organized by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF,
with the theme “Reconceptualizing Safety and Security in Lagos State”
The Governor said already, the emergency toll free lines 112 and 767, have been restructured for efficient service and to earn the confidence of residents.
While reeling out the state challenges in the last one year, Governor Sanwo-olu acknowledged the sacrifice of security officers who had died in line of duty with a promise to continue to support the families they left behind.
“There is however much more still to be done. We need more donors, and more contributions. I am making a special appeal to the private sector and to citizens and other stakeholders in Lagos State, to add your name to the donors’ list of the LSSTF. And to our existing donors, I believe there is room for more support. On our part, we will continue to ensure judicious use of the resources you make available” the Governor said
Giving account of stewardship of the Trust Fund in the last one year during his opening remarks, the LSSTF Executive Secretary, Mr Abdulrazaq Balogun, noted that paucity of funds remains the major challenge of Fund, a situation he attributed to donors fatigue and covid 19 pandemic which affected the finances of most corporate Organisations.
Mr Balogun who said about three million naira is needed to fully and properly kit a police officer, appealed to Lagosians not to relent in supporting the trust fund to boost security architecture as the insecurity in the Northern part of the Country is gradually affecting Lagos, with the infiltration of some unwanted elements and wants residents to be on the alert
On his part, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr Hakeem Odumosu who has just been promoted to the post of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, stated that crime rate had reduced in Lagos due to provision of needed security apparatus by the state government.
Mr Odumosu however noted that two hundred and forty three people were gruesomely murdered in the last nine months.
He said “a total of 243 murder cases were recorded with the arrest of 215 suspects. 210 of the murder suspects were charged to court while investigation is ongoing on other cases. Arrest of 390 cultists were recorded during the period, 349 of the cultists have been arraigned before the courts while investigations into the cases involving others are yet to be concluded”
The Commissioner of Police called on residents to continue to collaborate with security agencies and report misconduct of officers to the appropriate quarters.
Participants in the Security Town Hall, including traditional and religious leaders, the organised private sector and members of the Diplomatic Corps, called on the Police to continue to justify the confidence reposed in them by being alive to their responsibilities.
Discover more from Radio Nigeria Lagos
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
