Photo: Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. AbdulRazaq Balogun (2nd right); Board member, LSSTF & Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal (middle) jointly presenting a Patrol Van to the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Peter Udom of Aguda Police Station, Surulere (left) while a Community Leader in Coker Aguda LCDA, Prince Demola Dadanla (2nd left) and Divisional Police Officer, Aguda Police Station, Surulere, Barr. Olaniyi Okunribido (right) watch during the presentation of a Patrol Van to the Police Station at the LSSTF Office, Alpha Plaza, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday.
The Lagos State Government has assured the Nigeria Police and other security agencies of its maximum support towards ensuring the safety of lives and property of residents in the state.
Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdulrazaq Balogun gave the assurance at the presentation of a brand new Hilux vehicle to the Aguda Police Command to aid effective policing of the area.
He said the state government will continue to provide security agencies with the requisite support in areas of logistics, equipment and welfare, to enable them carry out their duties effectively.
“The Lagos State Security Trust Fund and by extension the State Government has done a lot and is still doing a lot to ensure that the security and welfare of Lagosians are protected and the thrust of this government under Governor Ambode is to ensure that security of lives and property is given top priority and by so doing, businesses will thrive in Lagos state and there will be more infrastructure and more employment and the state can be very prosperous.
“I want to urge them that despite the challenges, which we know are huge, the state government cannot totally meet these responsibilities, as you know it’s a Federal responsibility but we will continue to intervene and support the Nigeria Police and other security agencies,” Balogun said.
Handing over the vehicle to the representatives of the Aguda Police Command, led by its Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Barr. Olaniyi Okunribido, Dr. Balogun said the gesture was in response to a request by the division.
He said, “It’s just to intervene in the need of a police station. We got a request that the unit does not have a patrol vehicle and we all know that it is one of the important tools for policing the environment and when we got the request, we felt that we can assist them as part of our responsibility here to donate this new Hilux vehicle for their operations.”
He said the intervention was the first request the LSSTF is receiving from a local police division in the state.
Responding to the gesture, the Aguda Command DPO, Barr. Olaniyi Okunribido, a Superintendent of Police, said the vehicle will go a long way to boost their surveillance of the area, especially responding to distress calls from residents.
He pledged that the division will redouble its effort to ensure adequate security for residents and wage war against crime in the Aguda area.
“We are so happy to have this because it is one of the things that will help us discharge our duties very well. The vehicles we had before, we have been working on them but they are rickety and old, but with this brand new vehicle, it is a morale booster for our men and they are going to do well, you can be rest assured that Aguda Police Divisional Headquarters will come out tops in issues of crime fighting and policing”.
The DPO also pledged the commitment of his officers to ensure that the vehicle is maintained, adding that those expected to be in charge have been given re-orientation courses of how to conduct themselves properly while on the wheels as well as in responding to distress calls.