By Emmanuel Ukudolo
November 27, 2015 – President Muhammadu Buhari today handed over modern tools worth N4.765 billion to the Lagos State Police Command to tackle fast rising incident of crime in Lagos state with a charge to leadership of the Nigerian Police Force to use the equipment to decisively deal with crime in the state.
Among the modern tools which were donated by the Lagos State Government directly to the police through its crime fighting outfit, Rapid Response Squad(RRS) include 3 combat-ready helicopters with a capacity to land on water, fly day and night and chase after robbers.
Others are two gunboats, 100 4-door salon cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW power bikes, 100 other low capacity power bikes, Isuzu Trucks, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, revolving lights, siren and Public Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, Security Gadgets including bullet proof vests, helmets, handcuffs, uniforms among others with Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes.
He said that addressing these challenges require collaboration among critical stakeholders, elected government representatives, the judiciary, security & law enforcement agencies, traditional and religious leaders as well as civil society.
“Equally important is the need to address socio-economic and cultural factors responsible for delinquencies among the youths… I therefore call on our teeming youths to shun acts that are inimical to peace and stability in our nation”, he said.
Speaking through Minister for interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Danbazau, the president noted that Lagos State has recently experienced armed robbery and other sundry crimes.
“By this intervention, Lagos State Government has risen to the occasion by assisting the Nigeria Police with the wherewithal to curb crimes within its domain. I therefore want to enjoin other states to emulate the gesture of Lagos State Government by supporting security agencies. On its part, the federal government will continue to support and strengthen the security agencies to discharge their responsibilities optimally.
“As you are all aware, our men and women in uniform are daily sacrificing to keep us safe. Our vision is to ensure that the security forces are given the best we can offer. In this regard, particular attention will be on the equipment, training, equipping logistics and welfare of our personnel in line with international best practice.
“Today marks another milestone in our pursuit to attain a crime-free nation. It also goes to now say that the Nigeria Police will find these equipment extremely beneficial to its current and future operations”, he said.
He noted that concerted effort must be made to ensure their longevity through efficient maintenance culture to justify resources spent in acquiring them.
“I therefore seize this moment to challenge the leadership of the Nigeria Police to see this donation as the clarion call to decisively deal with violent crime in Lagos State, particularly the menace of armed robbery to hold helpless residents of Lagos hostage”, he said.
Earlier in his speech, Ambode said that the overall policy thrust of this administration is built on a tripod; Security, Job Opportunities and Improved Infrastructure.
He said that a safer Lagos would continue to attract bigger commerce and more local and foreign investment would create more job opportunities for people and generate more taxes for the government to improve on infrastructure in various sectors.
“With our commitment to light-up Lagos; we are sure we are on our way to creating a 24-7 economy. It is in our best interest.
“We are all aware of the recent trend in terror attacks all over the world. As one of the emerging global City-States, it has become compelling to reenergize the security infrastructure in meeting with present day realities.
According to him, in a bid to reinvigorate the State Police Command, the RRS was established in1999 under the visionary leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The command was further strengthened during the administration of Babatunde Raji Fashola who set up the Security Trust Fund in 2007 to create a Public-Private Partnership to fund the huge investment required to support security operations in the State. The State Police Command has been a major beneficiary of donations of security equipment by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and government.
“Today, we are raising the bar and re-positioning the Lagos State Police Command to a standard comparable to similar outfits in other modern City States. Our Police Command will have its operations significantly driven by the right technology and equipment that will match the emerging sophistication of crime in our contemporary time”, he said.
Other acquired by the state government to assist in fighting crime are drones, which will be deplored to compliment efforts of the helicopters and the ground forces.
The highlight of the occasion was the re-branding of the RRS, which coincides with ongoing rebranding of the Nigerian Police, with the slogan, ‘Nigerian Police The Good Guys’.
The re-branded RRS now has a new badge modeled like the London Metropolitan police. It is made up of a new badge embedded with RRS, identified as a division of the Nigeria Police, Lagos State and her colours, a shield for protection and an eagle sitting atop the crest, indicative of the far-sighted vision envisaged for the re-branded RRS.
While commending the effort of the governor, experts are saying that what is left is a total rebranding of the mindset of the police which can be achieved with good welfare package.