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Tag: Makinde

  • Oyo approves conversion for 654 officers across cadres

    Oyo approves conversion for 654 officers across cadres

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has once again demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of workers in the state by approving the conversion of 654 officers across various cadres in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the State.

    In a statement, the Chairman Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Kamoru Aderibigbe, explained that the beneficiaries are officers in sub-officer cadres, ranging from junior to senior levels, who have enhanced their qualifications by acquiring relevant, approved courses from recognised tertiary institutions.

    Read Also: Defence, security top priorities in N58.18tr 2026 budget

    He noted that the approval will not only lead to improved remuneration for the affected officers but will also provide them with the opportunity of attaining the peak of their careers within the civil service.

    Aderibigbe urged the beneficiaries to regard the gesture of Governor Makinde as a special privilege and to reciprocate it with increased dedication, diligence, and commitment to service.

  • Makinde approves conversion of 654 civil servants in Oyo

    Makinde approves conversion of 654 civil servants in Oyo

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved the conversion of 654 officers across various cadres in the state’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

    In a statement, the Chairman of the Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Kamoru Aderibigbe, explained that the beneficiaries are officers in sub-officer cadres, from junior to senior levels, who have improved their qualifications by acquiring relevant and approved courses from recognised tertiary institutions.

    Read Also: Makinde commissions Omololu Olunloyo Relaxation Park in Ibadan

    Aderibigbe noted that the approval would not only enhance the remuneration of the affected officers but also create opportunities for them to attain the peak of their careers within the civil service.

    He urged the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a special privilege and to reciprocate it with greater dedication, diligence, and commitment to their duties.

    The commission chairman also expressed appreciation to Governor Makinde, describing the approval as an unprecedented end-of-year goodwill gesture to workers in Oyo State.

  • Makinde harps on elite consensus to move Nigeria forward

    Makinde harps on elite consensus to move Nigeria forward

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that there is a need for Nigeria’s elite to reach a consensus on how best to move the country forward.

    He urged the ruling class to identify the challenges the country is facing and design appropriate solutions, which must discourage the winner-takes-all approach.

    The governor said this on Wednesday, at the launch of a book by a former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, entitled ‘Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined An Administration,’ held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

    He said that ordinary Nigerians have arrived at a consensus that they want to be Nigerians, but that the elite have been the ones dividing the country along ethnic, religious, political, and other lines.

    Governor Makinde added that those who negotiated Nigeria’s independence chose federalism and multi-party democracy because they were imperative for the country’s multi-ethnic status.

    He said, “My experience is that ordinary Nigerians already have a consensus that they want to be Nigerians. But the elite, we the elite, are the ones dividing the country because we have ambitions. ‘Oh, he’s Muslim, he’s Christian, he is Fulani’ and all that.

    “So, I came here to say, well, this book, I know the author, he is a Nigerian who will attract all sorts of people across the divide. And that is why I am here. I am not in APC, and I am not about porting to APC either.

    “So, because we have here Nigerians from across the divide, I believe we need elite consensus, just like Professor Afolabi (former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who delivered the keynote address) mentioned. We need elite consensus on how to move forward. But I will leave you with just one thing to ponder.

    “He said here that Nigeria’s independence was negotiated under a certain condition. Of course, federalism was settled in that negotiation; multi-party democracy was settled in that negotiation. And Prof also said civil war came, and we went towards a unitary arrangement.

    “Yes, I have had the opportunity to discuss with some of our leaders who were players in that period. They said, well, the only problem they were faced with, as of that time, was that they went through a civil war, and they needed to unite Nigeria. That was the only problem.

    “So, federalism and all of those things negotiated, became secondary. Their major task was to unite Nigeria. But is it the same problem that we are faced with today? The answer is no. So, we must identify the problem that we are faced with today and design something that will allow us to tackle that problem.

    “My own magic bullet is, Prof mentioned, designing an arrangement where there will be no winner-takes-it-all politically in Nigeria.”

    Governor Makinde, who eulogised the author of the book, Mohammed, praised him for documenting his experience in government.

  • I am not dumping PDP – Makinde

    I am not dumping PDP – Makinde

    Despite the lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said he will continue to paddle his canoe in the murky waters of his party.

    He dismissed speculation of his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Makinde made the declaration on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book, ‘Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration’, written by former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    He told a large crowd of dignitaries that cut across party lines that he was not ready to join any of the defecting PDP governors to the ruling party.

    “I am not APC, and I am not about to become APC,” Makinde said.

    He said Nigeria’s progress depends on sincere collaboration among leaders across political divides to move the country forward.

    The governor accused the Nigerian elites of the country’s deepening divisions due to their individual ambitions rather than the will of ordinary citizens.

    He noted that most Nigerians desire unity and coexistence, but lamented that this laudable desire is often manipulated along religious, ethnic, and regional lines by political elites for their personal gains

    The governor stressed the need to jettison the “winner-takes-all” mentality in politics, arguing that it fuels exclusion and undermines national cohesion.

    He then called for deliberate efforts to design political and governance arrangements that promote fairness, inclusion, and stability.

  • Copyright: Save me from being cheated at old age Lere Paimo begs Makinde, Adeboye

    Copyright: Save me from being cheated at old age Lere Paimo begs Makinde, Adeboye

    Renowned filmmaker, Chief Lere Osunpaimo, popularly known as “Eda Onile Ola,” has appealed to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, RCCG General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Nigerians to intervene after alleging that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, is attempting to remake his iconic film Ogbori Elemoso without his consent.

    Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan, Osunpaimo described Ogbori Elemoso as pivotal to his career and legacy, noting that it earned him national recognition, including the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) award, and contributed to his chieftaincy title of Are Arobajo of Ogbomoso, conferred by the late Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade II.

    The filmmaker said the current monarch had initially approached him with a proposal to remake the film, requesting cost estimates. 

    Osunpaimo valued the project at around N100 million, but alleged that the Soun suggested the budget could increase and requested script changes, promising to follow up.

    However, in October 2025, Osunpaimo claimed a man identified as Ben Ayoola, also known as Ben O Ben, together with individuals claiming to represent Fewchore Studio, visited his home asserting they had the monarch’s approval to remake the film. 

    “They told me they did not need my permission to remake the movie and that they only wanted to give me a ‘gift’ for the work,” he said.

    The group allegedly deposited N7.5 million into his account, which Osunpaimo’s children described as manipulation. 

    Acting on their advice, he returned the money and, through his legal counsel, issued a cease-and-desist letter to the studio warning against proceeding without his approval. 

    Despite this, he claimed the parties insisted on having the monarch’s backing and warned that legal action would not favor him.

    Describing the situation as an attempt to destroy his legacy, Osunpaimo recalled that producing Ogbori Elemoso had left him heavily indebted and had even led to the seizure of his car. 

    “This work was meant to benefit me and my children, but powerful individuals are attempting to take it away from me,” he said.

    He urged Governor Makinde, Pastor Adeboye, the Oyo State Police Commissioner, and the sons and daughters of Ogbomoso worldwide to intervene. 

    He also appealed to Nigerians to protect him from what he described as injustice at his old age, noting that he suspects those involved may be connected to recent social media rumors about his death.

    Attempts to reach the Soun of Ogbomoso’s spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.

  • Makinde, Ooni, Olubadan to attend Ibadan Poly 40th convocation

    Makinde, Ooni, Olubadan to attend Ibadan Poly 40th convocation

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, are among the dignitaries expected at the 40th convocation ceremony of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025.

    Oba Ogunwusi will be honoured at the ceremony alongside two other eminent Nigerians.

    Also expected is legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Muyiwa Akinboro, who will deliver the convocation lecture on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

    His lecture is titled “Legal Frameworks and Strategies for Addressing Terrorism, Banditry and Insurgency in Nigeria: A Multidimensional Approach.”

    Speaking during a press conference to announce the convocation activities, the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, represented by Deputy Rector, Mrs. Olaide Salawu, said the institution currently has no backlog of graduation ceremonies and intends to maintain its record of smooth, industrial-dispute-free academic sessions.

    She noted that the institution has held 39 convocation ceremonies, producing thousands of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma graduates, as well as Higher School Certificate holders who advanced to universities across the country.

    The Rector highlighted the institution’s strong performance in accreditation, attributing its success to Governor Makinde’s consistent financial support for programme accreditation and development. She added that the governor has encouraged the institution to secure full accreditation for all its courses.

    “In April this year, the institution presented a total of 42 courses for accreditation to the NBTE, and we successfully scaled through all,” she said.

    She further disclosed that the institution has also been approved to introduce new programmes, including ND Food Science and Technology, ND Transport Planning and Management, ND Crime Management, and HND Science Laboratory Technology, among others.

  • Christmas: Makinde’s wife urges Oyo women to embrace giving, strengthen families

    Christmas: Makinde’s wife urges Oyo women to embrace giving, strengthen families

    Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, has urged women across the state to uphold the spirit of giving, strengthen family bonds, and continue championing peaceful communities as 2025 draws to a close.

    She commended Oyo women for their resilience throughout the year, noting that their strength and contributions have continued to sustain communities across the state.

    Speaking in Ibadan at the 2025 End-of-the-Year and Christmas Women’s Party, Mrs. Makinde—represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ajibola Lawal—said the annual celebration was more than a social gathering, describing it as a moment to reflect on women’s roles in families and in the state.

    According to her, Oyo women have shown remarkable resilience in business, public service, agriculture, community building, and in their homes. 

    She described them as “the heartbeat of Oyo State,” adding that their sacrifices keep the wheels of progress turning.

    She reiterated that her vision for women in the state is for them to continue shining as beacons of hope, empowerment, and unity, noting that her office remains committed to creating platforms where women can bond, share experiences, and feel valued.

    Mrs. Makinde added that Christmas offers a unique opportunity for women to reflect on the year’s blessings while embracing the hope and opportunities the new year will bring.

    “Women have the power to nurture, uplift, and shape future generations. The values we instill in our homes, patience, humility, compassion, discipline, are the same values that shape our communities and our state.

    “Nation-building begins within households. When a family is peaceful, a community becomes peaceful. And when communities are peaceful, the entire state enjoys stability and progress.”

    She urged women to rekindle the true essence of Christmas through generosity and compassion, saying Christmas is not just a celebration, but a call to love.

    “Let us share what we have, no matter how little with those around us. A simple act of kindness can transform someone’s entire year.”

    She however extended warm wishes to all families, praying that Christmas brings peace, prosperity, and lasting joy to every home in Oyo State.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun applauded Mrs Makinde for consistently championing the cause of women and creating platforms that promote unity, gratitude, and sisterhood. 

    She noted that women coming together to share experiences reinforces collective strength.

    The Commissioner commended Oyo women for their remarkable contributions across multiple sectors during the year.

    She however reaffirmed that the Ministry, with continued support from the Governor and the First Lady, would remain dedicated to advancing policies and programmes that ensure safety, dignity, and economic independence for all women.

    Highlight of the event include distribution of food items and cash to women from all 33 local government areas, a gesture aimed at supporting families during the festive season and easing the economic strain experienced by many households.

  • Makinde approves 13th-month salary for Oyo workers

    Makinde approves 13th-month salary for Oyo workers

    Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of a 13th-month salary to Oyo State workers, marking the seventh consecutive year the gesture will be extended to the state’s workforce.

    The governor also approved the payment of outstanding salaries and minimum wage arrears owed to staff of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

    Makinde announced this on Monday while inaugurating the Governing Board of the Teaching Hospital at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. 

    He assured that his administration would soon address the issues that led to the recent strike by LAUTECH lecturers.

    The governor also tasked the newly inaugurated Governing Board with revamping the Oyo Annex of the Teaching Hospital within 12 months, pledging full support from the state government to make the facility fully operational.

    “You have been selected or nominated on the basis of merit,” Makinde said. “The Chairman of the Governing Board, Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, is an accomplished individual. He has been everywhere, and many organisations seek his expertise. So thank you, Prof, for agreeing to serve your state.”

    “Prof has developed a roadmap, and he has asked me when can we sit down and agree on this so that he can start implementation. 

    “Also, I have been trying to see Prof. Ayodeji Omole, Chairman of LAUTECH Governing Council, for a while now because I have been reading about the lecturers either going on strike or not going on strike. I haven’t really taken a deeper dive into what is going on in there. So, I hope that in the next one or two days we will be able to see what is going on. 

    “When I came to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, I made a promise about the issues around the minimum wage arrears, and all of that. And a lot of your people have been asking, ‘What’s the situation because we haven’t received the alert?’ Let me explain. I made that pronouncement, and I expected it to be implemented, but they came back and said, ‘Well, we have to follow due process.’ I am happy to report that just this morning, I signed the salary file for the December salary and the 13th-month salary. All those arrears were included.  

    “So they should rest assured. I can also announce here that just like we did last year, and just like we have been doing since 2019, there will be 13th-month salaries as well.”

    Speaking further, the governor tasked the new Governing Board to hit the ground running, saying: “One request that I have before this Board is that the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Complex, Oyo, must be totally revamped. It should be operational within 12 months. 

    “So, by this time next year, we will not be going back and forth. I thought it was included in the French grant, but they came back and said no. I said okay, even if it was not included, we will take it on as a state. It is a special project for 12 months. And I will be available to provide and give any kind of support that you may require.”

    Speaking on behalf of the Governing Board, the Chairman, Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and assured the board’s readiness to complement government efforts with policies that would transform the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to a world-class facility.

    He said, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the governor, and I want to assure him and the state government that we have a Board that is going to be transparent and open to make sure we leave a legacy with this project bestowed on us.

    “We are going to do our duty with a lot of energy and passion. We have developed a strong strategic plan for the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital over the next several years. The Board is going to have a thorough discussion on priorities. 

    “We want to ensure that we have a thorough facelift of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. We also want to bring the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital up to the 21st-century standard as a legacy for this governor. 

    “So, we are going to be establishing the Electronic Medical Record to ensure that what applies globally is going to be the same thing that applies in LAUTECH.”

    The newly inaugurated Governing Board is headed by Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, with Mr Aderemi Adeniyi Adediji as Secretary. Other members are Mr Olatunde Gabriel Oyelade, Dr Bello Adebayo Taiwo, Mrs Isola Agnes Bolanle, Dr Akintunde Kehinde Ayinde, Prof. Olawale Adebayo Olakulehin, Prof. Adenike Olugbenga-Bello, and Dr. Oluwajoba Olayinka.

    The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Ayaba Mutiat Ladoja; former deputy governor, Engr Hamid Gbadamosi; former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima; Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Saminu Gbadamosi; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni mni; and Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Adeniyi.

    Also in attendance were Special Adviser on Intervention, Mrs Aderonke Adedayo; Co-Chairman, Oyo State Elders’ Council, Elder Wole Oyelese; Pro Chancellor and Chairman, LAUTECH, Prof. Ayodeji Omole; Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH, Prof Rasaq Rom Kalilu; Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Oyedele Sanda; Prof Temitope Alonge and Labour Union leaders, among others.

  • We’ll leave sustainable legacy in transport sector – Makinde 

    We’ll leave sustainable legacy in transport sector – Makinde 

    …commissions Omololu Olunloyo Park

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has said that his administration will continue to restructure the transportation sector in the state with a view to leaving a sustainable legacy in the sector.

    The governor added that with the completion of Terminals 1 & 2 of the Ibadan Central Bus Station, Iwo Road, his government has brought about a massive turnaround in the transportation sector, with a well-organised system and a solid management.

    He noted, however, that the administration will not stop at that, as it plans to sponsor the leadership of the Park Management System (PMS) and motorcycle riders to Rwanda where they will gain further insights into how to better manage the transport system and make life more comfortable for residents of the state through their services.

    The governor spoke on during the opening of a Leisure Park named after former Governor Victor Omololu Olunloyo, at Airport Road, Alakia, Ibadan.

    Eulogising the late former governor, Governor Makinde said the government remained committed to its promise of digitising Dr Olunloyo’s library so it can serve as a resource base for members of the public as well as a tourist attraction site.

    He said: “I have said that we would fix Dr Omololu Olunloyo’s library, and that commitment remains. We will do this to immortalise a highly cerebral individual, who gave a great part of his life to serving our dear state.

    “When I came into office in 2019, this particular spot used to host some shops, and the road to the airport was just a narrow road, and there was nothing outside the gate here. 

    “But today, the environment has changed considerably. We have constructed the dual carriageway to the Airport and this Omololu Olunloyo Leisure Park has also sprung up. It will host people from the 18th of December for Vibing December.”

    Speaking on how his government has succeeded in transforming Ibadan landscape, especially transportation around Iwo Road axis and other locations through infrastructure development and restructuring of the transportation sector, the governor said there is a better coordination in the sector and that his government will not rest on its oars.

    Read Also: We’ll continue to strengthen security architecture, secure Oyo – Makinde

    “We now have in Iwo Road a system that has a management, and you can account for all the buses that are leaving the terminals to wherever they are going. But we are not stopping at that.

    “I will sponsor their leadership and the leadership of Okada riders to Kigali, Rwanda. I will sponsor them to understudy how those people have organised their transport sector.

    “Yes, commercial motorcycles are everywhere in Kigali, but they are well-identified. They take helmets with them — one for the passenger and one for the rider. They don’t carry two passengers. So, we need to understudy this model as we want to sanitise the system.

    “Commercial motorcycle riders, which are about 50,000, can be banned. It is the easiest thing to do. But if they are filling a gap, what we have to do is to regulate them and ensure that we minimise accidents and let them earn a living.

    “If we ask them to stop operating, I can tell you that criminals will multiply. I know that people have been talking and asking what the government is doing about the issue of okada riders, because they have been banned in the metropolis of other states. Well, your government is doing something that will be sustainable and beneficial to all of us.”

  • We’ll continue to strengthen security architecture, secure Oyo – Makinde

    We’ll continue to strengthen security architecture, secure Oyo – Makinde

    …commissions Police Area Command rebuilt by Akinyele LG 

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has reiterated that his administration will continue to strengthen the security architecture of the state in order to secure the lives and properties of residents.

    The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, stated this on Friday, at the commissioning of the Moniya Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, which was reconstructed by Akinyele Local Government.

    The governor also commissioned two motorised boreholes situated at the Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Challenged in Isabiyi Ward 6 and Akuro Community, Olorisaoko, Ward 11.

    The governor maintained that the construction of the new Area Command of the Nigeria Police in Moniya is part of the commitment of the government to securing lives and properties in the state.

    He said that the government remains ready to proactively combat security challenges.

    Governor Makinde highlighted that Moniya and, indeed, Akinyele Local Government, is rapidly becoming a centre of attraction with massive urban expansion due to several vast infrastructure development projects of the state government, including the ongoing Circular Road, the Ilutuntun Business District and the Dry Port, among others.

    Read Also: Ogun moves to enforce cleaner environment, adopts community service for waste offenders

    He noted that these projects have and will continue to attract more people to the council and that the government must expand its capacity to secure the people, a development he noted was demonstrated by the construction of the Police Area Command Headquarters in Moniya.

    While stating the strategic importance of the project, the governor added that the infrastructure development has projected Akinyele Local Government economically, noting that it requires robust security to ensure both public safety and a stable environment for investment.

    He said: “This project has a lot of facilities in it, which will help the officers to perform their duties effectively. This also comes with a borehole and I want to commend the local government chairman for it.

    “As a community, I want to urge us to say something when we see anything strange. In Oyo State, we have decided to really confront insecurity head on. Most of the needs of the security agencies are being met regularly to the extent that if you see any car carrying the logo of the Nigeria Police Force, just know the state government donated it.

    “I attend the NEC meeting on a monthly basis and I keep interrogating at the higher level in Abuja; look, you say it is the Nigeria Police Force but go to the states, in terms of equipment, mobility, the only thing states do not do is to buy arms and ammunition. 

    “The rest of the responsibilities are being done by the state governments and we will continue to do this in Oyo State. This is because we are appreciative of what the Police Force is doing for us in terms of security.

    “For this Area Command, if there are things that must be put in place beyond the ability of the local government, please escalate it to the state government.

    “The contract for the road in front of this place has been awarded and they have started working on it, and it would be completed in due course. 

    “In the whole of Southwest, Oyo State stands as the safest; we have the statistics and records, and we are proud of the status in South-West Nigeria.”

    Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman, Akinyele Local Government, Akinwole Akinleye, said the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Moniya is meant to reposition the command to secure borders and safeguard the people of the state in the face of mounting insecurity in the country.

    He added that the newly built area command has facilities that will enable policemen to effectively perform the task of tackling security issues associated with urbanisation as represented by the opening up of Ilu-Tuntun Business District and the ongoing Circular Road Project in Akinyele Local Government.

    While commending Governor Makinde for strengthening the security architecture of the state, he assured the people of the state of more dividends of democracy.

    Also in his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Isiaka Salahudeen, urged the residents of the state to cooperate with the government by providing useful information to the security agencies to tackle insecurity and other social vices in their communities, adding that securing the state is a responsibility for all.

    He assured of the police’s readiness to work with other security agencies to support the government to progress and achieve good results.

    In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola; the Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Sikiru Sanda and an elder statesman, Engr Julius Akinsola, lauded Governor Makinde’s initiatives on security.

    They equally commended Akinleye for complementing the efforts of the government through the projects.

    They charged the Police Force and the people of Akinyele Local Government to utilise and maintain the projects to reduce the menace of insecurity in the state.