…Gov To CP: ‘Dislodge Vandals, Kidnappers From Creeks’
Lagos State Government has recorded a major boost in its drive to
strengthen security across border towns, with the commissioning of a new Police
Command by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the weekend.
The Command located at Ilashe, a riverine community in Amuwo Odofin,
will serve as the operational headquarters of the recently created Area “L”,
which provides security services to all riverine communities in Oriade Local
Council Development Area (LCDA).
The entire structure, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, was
built and donated to the police by the State Government. Its construction was
fully handled and supervised by the State’s Ministry of Works and
Infrastructure.
While inaugurating the edifice, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the new Command
was strategically positioned in Ilashe riverine community to improve security
on waterways and strengthen the capacity of the police to efficiently combat
criminalities in border towns.
The Governor vowed that his administration would spare no effort in
making Lagos safe for investments and living, pledging that more resources
would be committed to fortify security operations across the State in line with
his Government’s agenda to improve socio-economic wellbeing of Lagos residents
through good governance.
He said: “The commissioning of the headquarters for the Area “L” Police
Command will further strengthen the capacity of our security network with the
synergy of other sister agencies to effectively monitor the activities of
miscreants, smugglers, pipeline vandals, kidnappers and sea pirates, who pose a
serious threat to the economic wellbeing of our State.
“I am extremely delighted with the level of progress we have achieved in
building and sustaining the security infrastructure in Lagos, given the
challenges we face in terms of controlling crimes in inner cities and boundary
communities. The Command will now fully commence regular operations that will
be targeted at ensuring safety and security on our waterways, while also
deploying personnel to dislodge criminals from creeks and riverside
communities.”
Sanwo-Olu, joined by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and
members of the State’s cabinet, said the creation of additional Police Command
was in fulfillment of his administration’s promise to leave no community behind
in the quest to turn Lagos to a model ‘Smart City’.
The Governor charged the police leadership to deploy “highly
professional and disciplined” personnel for operations in the area, stressing
that his administration would not condone any form of intimidation, coercion or
molestation of law-abiding residents by security operatives.
Area “L” is the 18th Police Command to be established in Lagos by the
Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after granting the State
Government’s “Special Status” request, which led to the increase in number of
security personnel deployed to the State. All the Commands are spread across
the five Administrative Divisions of Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu said the State Government would be signing a two-year
maintenance agreement with a private firm in order to keep the facility durable
and clean.
The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 2,
which comprises Lagos and Ogun states, Ahmed Ilyasu, assured Sanwo-Olu of
effective policing in the riverine towns, pledging that officers with high
sense of professionalism would be deployed to man the Area Command.
The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, appreciated the gesture of
the State Government, disclosing that the new Area Command would enhance the
capability of the police to dislodge criminals and secure valuable assets
located in border towns within Amuwo Odofin.
Odumosu said the Command would now supervise the operations of
Divisional Police Stations in riverine communities of Oriade local council,
including Ilashe, Ibeshe, Irede, Irewe/Osolu, Igbologun and Takwa Bay. He said
the proximity of the new Command to communities in the area would reduce the
time lag of the police response to their security needs.
He said: “As police officers, it is our duty to ensure safety of lives
and properties in line with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s agenda to reposition the
economy of Lagos by making the State the most secure mega city. The
establishment of the Area “L” Command and subsequent building of operational
base is a milestone for the police and the State Government.
“It is a symbolic manifestation of Mr. Governor’s commitment to secure
Lagos by creating comfortable working environment for our personnel to be
deployed to carry out their statutory duties in the Command.”
The new Command has a digitised multipurpose hall, well-furnished hostel
accommodation, security tower, administrative block, canteen, common room and
purpose-built apartment for Area Commander.
