Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has re-stated his administration’s commitment towards ensuring that Lagos is crime-free.
Sanwo-Olu’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, said in a statement that he made this known at the commissioning of 125 patrol vehicles and 35 patrol motorcycles for the use of security operatives in the state.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the model thought-out 13 years ago, with the support of the Lagos State House of Assembly to create the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has paid off so-good that the Federal government wants to replicate.
According to him, the idea of creating a security trust fund has worked well for the State, noting that donation of the vehicles and motorcycles can only help rejuvenate his administration’s plan at ensuring maximum security for the people of Lagos.
The Governor said: “This young administration is just 99 days old; security and good governance happens to be the sixth pillar of our ‘THEMES’ policy agenda and we have attempted modestly to ensure that we engage each and every one of those pillars
“What we are doing today is a demonstration of our commitment to good governance by ensuring that the dividends of democracy are not just felt but are also things that people can feel, see and we can act on”
Promising that security of lives and property is core to his government, the Governor stated his administration’s resolve to support all outfits responsible for safety.
The Governor, while reacting to the recent reprisal attack against xenophobia in Lagos, warned residents to shun criminality and lawlessness, saying “that no one should be found on the other side of the law”.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that federal government was already handling the xenophobic matter diplomatically. He urged Lagosians to remain peaceful and orderly at all times.
“Security of lives and property is not only critical to us it is something that we will not turn deaf ears to.
“Lagos will continue to remain safe, Lagos will continue to be a place security will not be taken for granted and based on the incidents that have happened in the last two days, the government will certainly not condone any incident where we have a breakdown of law,” he said.
“We will be passing 120 pickup vehicles and about 35 motorcycles to our various security formations and we will determine who gets what but this is just the beginning. We know that security is everybody’s concern and that is why we as government have seen the need for this today.
He, however, advised parents to ensure their wards are not used by people with criminal intention as necessary organs of government are adequately equipped to handle all issues at hand.
Speaking earlier, in his speech, Chairman Board of Trustee, LSSTF, Oye Hassan-Odukale, noted that Lagos was the safest place in Nigeria saying everybody was a stakeholder in security.
He thanked all individuals and corporate organisations that have continued to contribute to the fund, noting that the support has been coming without recourse for LSSTF to appeal or send reminders to them for donations.
