Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, yesterday urged individuals and corporate organisations to assist in upholding the security of the State by donating to the State’s Security Trust Fund, saying it would cost less to consolidate on what has already been achieved.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the 4th Town Hall meeting on security with the theme, “Advancing the Security Model, Meeting the Challenges”, said as a result of the investment on security in the last three and a half years, Lagos State has become a choice destination of residence for not only Nigerians from other parts of the country but also people from across the globe.

“We have developed the capacity to police the State not only on land but on the sea and air”, adding, “This is probably the only State in the country where people can walk and jog at night without the fear of being kidnapped.”

Describing security as oxygen which could be taken for granted when available but which could lead to desperation and loss of life when not available, Governor Fashola said, “The attraction of millions of people to Lagos has placed a lot of strain on us in terms of infrastructure, social services and particularly security.”

The Governor recalled the trauma of his first few weeks in office as Governor when, according to him, “There was hardly a night that I was not at the accident and emergency ward of one hospital or the other visiting those wounded by armed robbers or in a mortuary to see those killed by them”, noting with joy that those incidents have become a thing of the past.”

“What we started four years ago has earned Lagos an award from South Africa. It has climbed to the very high altar of the hallowed chambers of the United Nations where it is receiving consideration as a model to be adopted in solving security challenges in other parts of the world”, the Governor said.

However, according to the Governor, “the model has become challenged. More people are choosing Lagos as their home of residence as a result of the security challenges that exist in other parts of the country where this kind of model is not in existence”, adding that the vehicles being used by the police for patrol and emergency services have become old and need replacement.

“It is left for us whether or not we want to keep the model, whether or not we want to remain famous for starting great things and then letting it slide, whether we want to go back to the beginning in 2007 when every week banks were robbed and police officers were maimed; when at night, what we heard from Ikoyi to Apapa to Lagos were sporadic gunshots. These are things that quickly remind us of where we are coming from”, Governor Fashola said.

Pointing out that what is required at the moment is for the people to ensure that the security model does not relapse, Governor Fashola declared, “As a Government, we are not abdicating our responsibility. We are simply asking that you help keep alive the security model that you helped to put together.”

“Government continues to light up the streets. Electrification of the State is increasing street lighting at night which is a major investment and component of the security success that we have recorded”, the Governor said.

On other benefits derived from the improved security situation in the State, Governor Fashola said, “It has helped us to run a 24 hour economy; it has helped us to create jobs; we cannot create jobs if we run a 12-hour economy, no country can do that.”

“In addition, the State prides itself on running the only operational and effective dedicated emergency call centre in the country, to wit: the 767/112 emergency call centre which operates a 24 hour service. The Command and Control Centre in Alausa has recently been completed and would soon be commissioned”, the Governor said adding the the 767/112 emergency call centre is already operational within the Command and Control Centre.

Commending the various individuals and corporate organizations that supported the establishment of the Trust Fund and have continued to uphold it to date, the Governor declared, “Since 2007 till date, we have, through the Fund, provided reasonable number of equipment for the police and other security agencies”.

He, however, urged them not to relent while enjoining those who are yet to donate to join the train, pointing out that apart from the Rapid Response Squad, the local police in the various communities in the State need support through the provision of patrol vehicles, undercover cars, armoured personnel carriers, ballistic and weather protective wears for the men and communication equipment among others.

Governor Fashola challenged those who are opposed to the creation of State Police to have a rethink saying the argument against the control and running of the police by the states is untenable. “The risk of a State Police is insignificant to the benefits as our Security Trust Fund has indicated”, he said.

According to the Governor, “The model of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund has shown that the inherent benefits of its control by the State outweighs the fear of those who believe that governors will misuse the police under their command”.

“As the implementation of the very much anticipated Federal Government Police reforms seem to be taking longer than expected, there is no alternative for now to our security model. We need to continue to support this model even in the face of the economic difficulties.

It is in our enlightened self-interest to do so”, the Governor said.
Rendering the report of the Board of Trustees, the Executive Secretary of the Trust Fund, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, noted that “the security architecture of the State is structured around a high visibility emergency response system that has the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command at the forefront supported by the OP MESA”, adding that the 767/112 call centre is at the heart of the security system
According to the Executive Secretary, “We have made the Town Hall Meeting a yearly ritual because of the insistence of the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) that we must give account of our stewardship at every point in time”.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, expressed joy that the apathy and despondency that had hitherto been the lot of residents of Lagos State has given way to a better life made possible by the continued drive to make insecurity a thing of the past in the State.

He said there has been a reverse of the tradition of people traveling home to the hinterlands for Christmas and other festivities as people now prefer to stay back or even come into Lagos to spend such times due to the comparative security in the State, adding that this has put enormous pressure on the Police and other security operatives and brought about the need to step up security in the State.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Trust Fund, Mr. Remi Makanjuola, thanked the individuals and corporate bodies that have, over the years, supported the Fund adding, “Over the past years in my capacity as the Chairman, I have had the privilege of knowing the enormous efforts involved in keeping our security model functional in terms of acquisition, maintenance and replacement of assets required by security agencies in order to be effective and the gallant efforts of the police and other security agencies.

Thanking the donors for their “invaluable support and cooperation over the years, Makanjuola declared, “Addressing the security challenges facing us today will require  continued commitment and deep rooted partnership on the part of the Government, the private sector and individuals”.

In an interactive session, some of the stakeholders commended Governor Fashola whom they described as a role model saying the Security Trust Fund has done much to improve the security of the State.

Also present at the occasion were former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Musliu Smith, members of the State Executive Council, members of the State House of Assembly, Chairmen of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, representatives of banks and other corporate organizations, Traditional Rulers and top government officials.