curator
Administrator
Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to improve the funding of the police.
Fashola made the call when he spoke at the Lagos State Town Hall Meeting. The meeting, the 7th in the series, centred on security.
He said the poor funding of the police had impeded their capacity to adequately respond to security challenges.
The governor noted that security was capital intensive, and called for adequate investment in the police to enable them do their job effectively.
According to the governor, what is being provided the police, even in Lagos State, still falls short of what is needed to ensure adequate security.
Each of the police commands gets three vehicles and this is grossly inadequate.
"If residents pay their taxes and still have to contribute money to support security in the country, it clearly points to the poor funding of the police", he said.
Fashola said the state government created the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) seven years ago as a response to the deficit in police funding.
The governor said the trust fund had since mobilised funds, through corporate and individual donations, to boost police operations in the state.
According to him, the fund has also supported other security agencies in the state in discharging their responsibilities.
Fashola wondered why there were fierce oppositions to the idea of state police when over 80 per cent of police assets were provided by state governments.
He said that the effectiveness of the states' intervention in security was a clear proof that the idea of state police was workable.
The governor said the interventions, as well as legislation like the Traffic Law, had helped to check the activities of criminals.
He said his administration was committed to the protection of lives and property in the state.
Fashola called on residents of the state to cooperate with the government to keep the state safe.
He said residents could help security agencies by volunteering information on suspicious criminal activities in their neighbourhood.
"Let me remind you that we are at the end of the year and the festive season beckons. Let me remind you that there are a few people among us who seek to reap where they did not sow. Your vigilance, your peaceful co-existence and your sense of moderation in festivity will be the biggest security shield that will protect you from them, " he said
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, LSSTF, Mr Remi Majekodunmi, said the fund had raised N12 billion to support security agencies in the state in the last seven years.
"The fund has provided no fewer than 700 vehicles to the state security apparatus, and this is due to the selfless efforts of all those who have contributed to the fund. This is far from the ideal; but we are certainly better off than we were in the past when we could not boast of more than 50 vehicles. Funding is a major element of security. No matter how well trained security personnel are, without the right equipment, they can do little”, he said.
Mr Fola Arthur- Worrey, the Executive Director, LSSTF, commended contributors to the fund, saying their contributions had helped to make the state a safer place.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Fashola later presented awards to some police officers for their dedication to duty.
Fashola made the call when he spoke at the Lagos State Town Hall Meeting. The meeting, the 7th in the series, centred on security.
He said the poor funding of the police had impeded their capacity to adequately respond to security challenges.
The governor noted that security was capital intensive, and called for adequate investment in the police to enable them do their job effectively.
According to the governor, what is being provided the police, even in Lagos State, still falls short of what is needed to ensure adequate security.
Each of the police commands gets three vehicles and this is grossly inadequate.
"If residents pay their taxes and still have to contribute money to support security in the country, it clearly points to the poor funding of the police", he said.
Fashola said the state government created the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) seven years ago as a response to the deficit in police funding.
The governor said the trust fund had since mobilised funds, through corporate and individual donations, to boost police operations in the state.
According to him, the fund has also supported other security agencies in the state in discharging their responsibilities.
Fashola wondered why there were fierce oppositions to the idea of state police when over 80 per cent of police assets were provided by state governments.
He said that the effectiveness of the states' intervention in security was a clear proof that the idea of state police was workable.
The governor said the interventions, as well as legislation like the Traffic Law, had helped to check the activities of criminals.
He said his administration was committed to the protection of lives and property in the state.
Fashola called on residents of the state to cooperate with the government to keep the state safe.
He said residents could help security agencies by volunteering information on suspicious criminal activities in their neighbourhood.
"Let me remind you that we are at the end of the year and the festive season beckons. Let me remind you that there are a few people among us who seek to reap where they did not sow. Your vigilance, your peaceful co-existence and your sense of moderation in festivity will be the biggest security shield that will protect you from them, " he said
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, LSSTF, Mr Remi Majekodunmi, said the fund had raised N12 billion to support security agencies in the state in the last seven years.
"The fund has provided no fewer than 700 vehicles to the state security apparatus, and this is due to the selfless efforts of all those who have contributed to the fund. This is far from the ideal; but we are certainly better off than we were in the past when we could not boast of more than 50 vehicles. Funding is a major element of security. No matter how well trained security personnel are, without the right equipment, they can do little”, he said.
Mr Fola Arthur- Worrey, the Executive Director, LSSTF, commended contributors to the fund, saying their contributions had helped to make the state a safer place.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Fashola later presented awards to some police officers for their dedication to duty.