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  • Lagos steps up security, infrastructure, others

    Lagos steps up security, infrastructure, others

    The fifth edition of the town hall meeting organised by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was another proof that Lagos has no rival among states in the country, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI.

    Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere had perhaps never seen such over flowing crowd before. As early as 7 am, people from all walks of life started converging on the hal. They were there to listen to the account of stewardship of the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
    The event, which held on Tuesday, October 11, was the third Town Hall Meeting this year and fifth in the series of the programme.
    Before the governor’s arrival, eminent personalities had converged on the venue.
    Some of the eminent personalities include: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; members of the State Executive Council; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Senator representing Lagos Central at the Senate, Chief Mrs Oluremi Tinubu; former Senator representing Lagos West, Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Abiodun Ogunleye; Elegushi of Ikate Land, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi; All Progressives Congress chieftain, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Oniru of Iru Land, Oba Abiodun Oniru and former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya.
    Others include member of the House of Representatives from Lagos, Hon. Jide Jimoh; member of Lagos State House of Assembly from Surulere, Hon. Desmond Elliot; renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi; Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe; service chiefs and heads of security agencies, among many others.
    Ambode disclosed plans to recruit at least 5,000 Neighbourhood Watchers to boost security across the State, with new recruits expected to earn at least N25, 000 monthly with other allowances, adding that the Neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill which he signed into Law on August 15, 2016, was part of efforts to institutionalise and deepen community policing in the State.
    “There is a law that has just been passed which is the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Law, 2016 and in line with the resolution taken by the House of Assembly yesterday, we would go all out to make sure that this agency is activated and all our neighborhoods will be covered, and then centralize with the State Government with all the necessary equipment and resources to ensure that we establish what we call community policing and that is the way to go.
    “We will rebrand Neighborhood Watchers and re-equip them to the level that each Neighborhood Watchers in all the Local Governments will have their vehicles and necessary equipment to complement security. We are also working on employing additional 5,000 Neighborhood Watchers in all our Local Governments and they will be paid by us, while the basic salary for the entrance level will be N25, 000 per month,” the Governor said.
    The governor, who said the government would soon roll out all its empowerment programmes, said interventions targeted to assist youths, artisans and the needy to become self reliant have been provided, hence beneficiaries would start getting support from the last quarter of the year.
    “We will roll out all our empowerment programmes immediately to assist all our youth, artisans and the needy. The funding for the N500m Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund has been provided and beneficiaries will start getting support from this quarter,” Governor Ambode said.
    Speaking on the budget performance of the 2016 budget, Governor Ambode disclosed that the State’s budget performance for January to September performed at 69 per cent as against 65 per cent for the same period in 2015.
    He said a total of N166.8billion has been spent on capital projects this year, a figure, he said, was more than double the N53.6billion spent for the same period last year.
    Ambode said the state generated N97.3billion in the last quarter with an expenditure of N110.2billion, noting that the cash reserve of the State has remained positive.
    The governor also disclosed that N55billion was expended on capital expenditure in the last quarter.
    According to him, the last quarter witnessed a lot of activities from the delivery of massive road infrastructure across the Local Governments in the State as well as the promulgation of the anti-Land Grabbing Law, aimed at making life easier for property owners and a boost in investment activities that will enhance the growth and development potentials in the State.
    He expressed optimism that despite the recession, the State’s economy would remain on a strong and sound footing if capital expenditure spending is increased.
    “In this quarter, we will concentrate more resources on capital projects. We will put money in the hands of our local contractors and through them stimulate and reflate the economy. Immediate payments will be made to contractors handling health sector and education sector projects within the next two weeks,” Governor Ambode assured.
    Speaking on some projects outlined for the next quarter, the Governor said that plans have been concluded to transform the Yaba Bus Park with the provision of modern bus shelters replica of the ones erected at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island.
    Governor Ambode also assured that the road rehabilitation projects ongoing at Adetola Street and Brown Road in Aguda, Surulere as well as Olajuwon and Biney Streets in Yaba would be completed before the end of the present quarter.
    He said with the completion and delivery of the first phase of the 114 local government roads last month, the process of bid invitation for the construction of additional 114 roads across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas would commence within the next three weeks.
    “We have commenced a multi-faceted development that will change the face of Lagos Island. We have installed new bus shelters at Tafawa Balewa Square and before the end of December, various projects will be commenced within the National Museum axis, Onikan to Tafawa Balewa Square, and from Lagos House Marina and Freedom Park. By the time we complete these projects, Lagos will become a major tourist destination in West Africa,” the Governor said.
    Highpoint of the event was the interactive session where Governor Ambode took time to listen to the areas where the people would need the attention of government ranging from road rehabilitation, personal requests and critical interventions in general issues affecting the people.
    For instance, one of the participants at the meeting who requested for coaching job with the Sports Ministry got an instant approval for her request. The governor ordered affected officials to go and inspect areas where issues were raised by the people, with the view to intervene as quickly as possible.
    A resident of Dolphin Estate, Chief Mrs. Bewaji Kuku, raised the issue of flooding in the estate, saying that it has been a major concern for residents anytime it rained.
    She also raised the issue of contract for indigenous contractors, saying that local people should be encouraged to grow the economy, especially through the construction industry.
    However, Kuku recalled his encounter with Ambode during the electioneering campaign when she ‘bombarded’ him with questions on his preparedness to lead the State. She said: “I must confess that Governor Ambode has indeed performed very well and he is working hard to transform the state.”
    The Association of Professional Women in APC, on their part, commended Governor Ambode for the good job he has been doing in the State, but asked for the consideration of their members for employment opportunities.
    Responding, Governor Ambode took time to respond to all the issues raised, assuring that the concerns of the people would be addressed. He explained that the State Government has expended a lot of resources in combating flooding in the State, adding that the Flooding on Dolphin Estate was most times flash flood which would disappear few hours after the rain.
    He also assured the residents of the estate of the commitment of his administration to continually improve on the issues of flooding, ditto for all the nooks and crannies of the state.
    Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwan Akiolu lamented the suspension of a bill seeking special status for Lagos by the Senate, but expressed optimism that the bill would still become law in the nearest future.
    He said: “The suspension of the bill sponsored by our amiable daughter and wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is unfortunate but it is better and advisable to let these people know that this is not a matter of quarrel but a question of time. It will definitely happen.”
    The monarch, who recalled the history of the agitation for special status for Lagos, urged the promoters of the bill to go back to drawing board and do their home work well before representing it for consideration and passage.
    On the performance of Ambode’s administration, the monarch said with the monumental achievements recorded in the last 16 months, the eight years tenure of office of the Governor was certain.
    Also speaking on the special status bill, another APC leader in the State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi urged the promoters of the bill to be circumspect when representing the bill for consideration. He said it must be made clear that the National Assembly should not, and must not attempt to legislate for Lagos as a result of the request for one percent empowerment for Lagos which the bill seeks to achieve.
    The governor, who also spoke on the issue, commended Senator Tinubu for her courage to push for the bill, while also lauding the Senate President, Bukola Saraki for his magnanimity in allowing the bill to be presented on the floor of the Senate.
    By the time the crowd started dispersing, there was almost an agreement that Ambode is just starting with Lagos and that when he is through with it, the sky will be its limit.

  • Lagos steps up security, infrastructure, others

    Lagos steps up security, infrastructure, others

    The fifth edition of the town hall meeting organised by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was another proof that Lagos has no rival among states in the country, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI

    Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere had perhaps never seen such over flowing crowd before. As early as 7 am, people from all walks of life started converging on the  hal. They were there to listen to the account of stewardship of the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The event, which held on Tuesday, October 11, was the third Town Hall Meeting this year and fifth in the series of the programme.

    Before the governor’s arrival, eminent personalities had converged on the venue.

    Some of the eminent personalities include: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; members of the State Executive Council; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Senator representing Lagos Central at the Senate, Chief Mrs Oluremi Tinubu; former Senator representing Lagos West, Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Abiodun Ogunleye; Elegushi of Ikate Land, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi; All Progressives Congress chieftain, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Oniru of Iru Land, Oba Abiodun Oniru and former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya.

    Others include member of the House of Representatives from Lagos, Hon. Jide Jimoh; member of Lagos State House of Assembly from Surulere, Hon. Desmond Elliot; renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi; Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe; service chiefs and heads of security agencies, among many others.

    Ambode disclosed plans to recruit at least 5,000 Neighbourhood Watchers to boost security across the State, with new recruits expected to earn at least N25, 000 monthly with other allowances, adding that the Neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill which he signed into Law on August 15, 2016, was part of efforts to institutionalise and deepen community policing in the State.

    “There is a law that has just been passed which is the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Law, 2016 and in line with the resolution taken by the House of Assembly yesterday, we would go all out to make sure that this agency is activated and all our neighborhoods will be covered, and then centralize with the State Government with all the necessary equipment and resources to ensure that we establish what we call community policing and that is the way to go.

    “We will rebrand Neighborhood Watchers and re-equip them to the level that each Neighborhood Watchers in all the Local Governments will have their vehicles and necessary equipment to complement security. We are also working on employing additional 5,000 Neighborhood Watchers in all our Local Governments and they will be paid by us, while the basic salary for the entrance level will be N25, 000 per month,” the Governor said.

    The  governor, who said the government would soon roll out all its empowerment programmes, said interventions targeted to assist youths, artisans and the needy to become self reliant have been provided, hence beneficiaries would start getting support from the last quarter of the year.

    “We will roll out all our empowerment programmes immediately to assist all our youth, artisans and the needy. The funding for the N500m Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund has been provided and beneficiaries will start getting support from this quarter,” Governor Ambode said.

    Speaking on the budget performance of the 2016 budget, Governor Ambode disclosed that the State’s budget performance for January to September performed at 69 per cent as against 65 per cent for the same period in 2015.

    He said a total of N166.8billion has been spent on capital projects this year, a figure, he said, was more than double the N53.6billion spent for the same period last year.

    Ambode said the state generated N97.3billion in the last quarter with an expenditure of N110.2billion, noting that the cash reserve of the State has remained positive.

    The governor also disclosed that  N55billion was expended on capital expenditure in the last quarter.

    According to him, the last quarter witnessed a lot of activities from the delivery of massive road infrastructure across the Local Governments in the State as well as the promulgation of the anti-Land Grabbing Law, aimed at making life easier for property owners and a boost in investment activities that will enhance the growth and development potentials in the State.

    He expressed optimism that despite the recession, the State’s economy would remain on a strong and sound footing if capital expenditure spending is increased.

    “In this quarter, we will concentrate more resources on capital projects. We will put money in the hands of our local contractors and through them stimulate and reflate the economy. Immediate payments will be made to contractors handling health sector and education sector projects within the next two weeks,” Governor Ambode assured.

    Speaking on some projects outlined for the next quarter, the Governor said that plans have been concluded to transform the Yaba Bus Park with the provision of modern bus shelters replica of the ones erected at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island.

    Governor Ambode also assured that the road rehabilitation projects ongoing at Adetola Street and Brown Road in Aguda, Surulere as well as Olajuwon and Biney Streets in Yaba would be completed before the end of the present quarter.

    He said with the completion and delivery of the first phase of the 114 local government roads last month, the process of bid invitation for the construction of additional 114 roads across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas would commence within the next three weeks.

    “We have commenced a multi-faceted development that will change the face of Lagos Island. We have installed new bus shelters at Tafawa Balewa Square and before the end of December, various projects will be commenced within the National Museum axis, Onikan to Tafawa Balewa Square, and from Lagos House Marina and Freedom Park. By the time we complete these projects, Lagos will become a major tourist destination in West Africa,” the Governor said.

    Highpoint of the event was the interactive session where Governor Ambode took time to listen to the areas where the people would need the attention of government ranging from road rehabilitation, personal requests and critical interventions in general issues affecting the people.

    For instance, one of the participants at the meeting who requested for coaching job with the Sports Ministry got an instant approval for her request. The governor ordered affected officials to go and inspect areas where issues were raised by the people, with the view to intervene as quickly as possible.

    A resident of Dolphin Estate, Chief Mrs. Bewaji Kuku, raised the issue of flooding in the estate, saying that it has been a major concern for residents anytime it rained.

    She also raised the issue of contract for indigenous contractors, saying that local people should be encouraged to grow the economy, especially through the construction industry.

    However, Kuku recalled his encounter with Ambode during the electioneering campaign when she ‘bombarded’ him with questions on his preparedness to lead the State. She said: “I must confess that Governor Ambode has indeed performed very well and he is working hard to transform the state.”

    The Association of Professional Women in APC, on their part, commended Governor Ambode for the good job he has been doing in the State, but asked for the consideration of their members for employment opportunities.

    Responding, Governor Ambode took time to respond to all the issues raised, assuring that the concerns of the people would be addressed. He explained that the State Government has expended a lot of resources in combating flooding in the State, adding that the Flooding on Dolphin Estate was most times flash flood which would disappear few hours after the rain.

    He also assured the residents of the estate of the commitment of his administration to continually improve on the issues of flooding, ditto for all the nooks and crannies of the state.

    Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwan Akiolu lamented the suspension of a bill seeking special status for Lagos by the Senate, but expressed optimism that the bill would still become law in the nearest future.

    He said: “The suspension of the bill sponsored by our amiable daughter and wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is unfortunate but it is better and advisable to let these people know that this is not a matter of quarrel but a question of time. It will definitely happen.”

    The monarch, who recalled the history of the agitation for special status for Lagos, urged the promoters of the bill to go back to drawing board and do their home work well before representing it for consideration and passage.

    On the performance of  Ambode’s administration, the monarch said with the monumental achievements recorded in the last 16 months, the eight years tenure of office of the Governor was certain.

    Also speaking on the special status bill, another APC leader in the State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi urged the promoters of the bill to be circumspect when representing the bill for consideration. He said it must be made clear that the National Assembly should not, and must not attempt to legislate for Lagos as a result of the request for one percent empowerment for Lagos which the bill seeks to achieve.

    The governor, who also spoke on the issue, commended Senator Tinubu for her courage to push for the bill, while also lauding the Senate President, Bukola Saraki for his magnanimity in allowing the bill to be presented on the floor of the Senate.

    By the time the crowd started dispersing, there was almost an agreement that Ambode is just starting with Lagos and that when he is through with it, the sky will be its limit.

  • Why security votes should be scrapped

    Why security votes should be scrapped

    Media reports early this week that some federal and state judges had improperly benefitted from the state security votes are very disturbing. These reports should be a matter of grave concern to the public in view of their implications for the criminal justice system in our country. The reports came to me as a shock, as this practice is subversive of the rule of law and the democratic process. Only a few weeks ago, the National Judicial Council (NJC) announced that, in the last five years, 70 judges, including a state chief judge, had been sanctioned for improper conduct. Those identified as being involved in the security votes financial scandal should be severely punished. In fact, if convicted they should be jailed as a deterrent to other highly placed public servants.

    It had been known for a long time that the security votes operated by the presidency and governors were being subjected to a massive abuse. But only those involved could have guessed that even their lordships were benefitting improperly from the scam. I could hardly believe that this sort of thing was taking place in our judiciary. Dasukigate and the flurry of investigations by the EFCC over the 2015 general election confirmed what had long been suspected, even known, that improper disbursements from the security votes were being used by practically all the governments of the federation to influence and subvert the outcome of elections in our country. Even though there have been strong allegations of corruption in our judiciary at all levels, I could not imagine a situation in which some senior judges, the supposed bastions of justice in our country, were directly being paid improperly and regularly from the security votes. The reason for the payments is obvious; simply to compromise the judges and subvert the rule of law and pervert the justice system in our country. This accounts for the baffling, inexplicable and conflicting judgments being made recently by our judges.

    Now, it is doubtful that the security votes from which these improper payments are being made to all and sundry are either legal or constitutional. In fact, they have little or nothing to do with the personal safety of the president, or the security of the nation or the states. Colonel Sambo Dasuki, President Jonathan’s disgraced National Security Adviser, was at the centre of this huge and scandalous scam involving the diversion of funds meant for the Armed and Security Forces to cronies of the PDP federal government. The funds were, instead, used for whatever purpose the president or governors decide to use them for, including the acquisition of expensive and choice personal properties locally and abroad, as well as other material comforts that are irrelevant to the well-being of the citizens, or the security of our nation.

    The security funds are not authorised by the national or state assemblies. In fact, the details about these security votes are never shown in the budget estimates or approvals. They are simply concealed from the tax payers. They are not part of the federal or state budgets, and the beneficiaries are totally unaccountable for disbursements from the votes. We do not even know how much is involved or who gets what, except on occasions such as this. We owe the EFCC a huge debt of gratitude for uncovering the free and illegal handouts from the security votes. We are talking here about vast amount of funds in local and foreign currencies totalling billions of naira and in foreign currencies. As we now know, it is not only the politicians who benefit from these disbursements. There are other political hacks and hangers-on who get themselves involved in the despicable act of fleecing the nation of its financial resources by gaining access to the security votes.

    Many elected governments in the country have had to contend with hangers-on demanding access to, or even control, of the so-called security votes. In the old Oyo State, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, a rough but influential Ibadan politician, demanded from Governor Rashidi Ladoja, almost a half of the security votes. When payments to him were stopped, he successfully organised the impeachment of the governor, a brazen act of subversion of the democratic process for which he should have been punished. But nothing happened to him. Instead, the party leaders pleaded with him to accept less than what he had been demanding from the security votes of Oyo State.

    Now, it is not exactly clear when this ugly phenomenon of the abuse of the security votes started. Certainly, under colonial rule, such a practice was totally unknown. The colonial governors were not entitled to security votes from which they could draw. They lived modestly on their salaries. After independence, in the First Republic, neither the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, nor his regional colleagues, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, had access to any security votes from which they could give financial handouts to their supporters, or cronies. The Sardauna, a generous man, was known to have, on occasions, given a few of his political colleagues from the North, and a few senior civil servants, financial assistance drawn from the government funds. I was once told by a British expatriate, who had served as a permanent secretary in the Northern Regional Government when the Sardauna was premier, of how his application for a car loan had been returned to him by the Sardauna who, instead, bought and sent him a new car. Knowing that the Sardauna would be offended if he rejected the car gift, he sent it back to the dealers with a request that the amount paid for the car should be returned to the treasury. Soon after that, he resigned his appointment and left Nigeria for good after 20 years. But that was a simple gesture by the Sardauna. There was no pretence that the funds were from a special security vote to which only he had access. The three major political parties were financially self-supporting and politically-independent. They depended wholly on their internal resources.

    It can also be said with some degree of certainty that as a military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon had no access to any security votes when he was in office, including the three years in which he led the country in a savage civil war against the secessionists. But, somewhere along the line, possibly during the long period of military rule, the security votes were introduced clandestinely, ostensibly to ensure the security of the state, but really the security of military rule in Nigeria. The funds under the security votes were intended for funding the repression of the people and for smashing any civilian revolt or rebellion. This is the hallmark of a dictatorship, civilian or military, that should have no place in a democratic system of government. The American President does not enjoy the privilege of a personal security vote. Funds meant for national security are appropriately passed by Congress and disbursed to such national security agencies as the CIA, the FBI and the Defence Establishment. Similarly, the British Prime Minister has no security votes directly under his control. Security funds are appropriated by the British parliament and disbursed directly to the security agencies, such as the MI5, the M16, the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police and the Defence Intelligence Agency. This is the situation in all Western and other European countries. Even in China, it is unlikely that the Chinese leader has access to a secret security vote.

    Regrettably, the idea and practice of security votes have now become deeply embedded in our system of government, causing quite an extensive financial and moral damage to our country. It is morally reprehensible and subversive of our sense of decency and values. It should no longer be tolerated. It is substantially directly responsible for the massive looting of the national treasury, particularly during the tenure of the Jonathan PDP federal government, when a determined and irresponsible effort was made by a cabal to subvert the general election and ensure his re-election through slush funds from the so-called security votes.

    In the light of the preceding observations, I believe the time has come to scrap and do away with these so-called security votes. They add nothing to our state security and are not in our national interest. Instead, they are the source of social divisions in our country, as they aggravate the existing economic and social inequalities in our country. President Buhari owes it a duty to our country to put an end to this sordid source of massive financial leakages in our country. He should take the initiative in ending it. If he does not, then the National Assembly should take the initiative in passing the necessary legislation to bring the security votes to an end. The nation will be immensely grateful to him. This thought should also apply to the so-called ‘other charges’ through which our country is being fleeced of billions of naira.

     

     

     

     

  • GOtv Boxing Night 9: Organisers promise adequate security

    GOtv Boxing Night 9: Organisers promise adequate security

    Flykite Promotions, organisers of GOtv Boxing Night, have assured fans coming to the ninth edition of the event of adequate security in and around the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, venue of the event.

    Speaking in Lagos on Thursday,  Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Promotions, explained that fans have nothing to fear when they come for the event taking place on  October 2.

    “Security has always been great at every edition of GOtv Boxing Night. That is not about to change. Fans, who are the soul of the sport, need to feel safe to enjoy themselves. One of our partners, KSquare Security, is a top-tier security firm with vast experience in the handling of big events like this. There is nothing to fear,” said Alumona.

    A total of seven bouts are scheduled for GOtv Boxing Night 9, with two of them bringing Nigeria and Ghana in a head-on sporting collision. Nigeria’s Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, incumbent national light welterweight champion, will test himself against Ghana’s Raphael “Iron King” Kwabena King. National lightweight champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, will duel with Richard “Desert Warrior” Amefu, also of Ghana.

    Equally on the cards is the national cruiserweight title fight between the champion, Ekeng “Fighting Policeman” Henshaw and Idowu “ID Cabasa” Okusote. In the light heavyweight category, Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu’s mettle will be tested against national champion, Jude “Great Jude” Iloh, while Emmanuel “ Mopol Man” Igwe will slug it out with Kabiru “KB Godson” Towolawi.

    In the second lightweight contest on the night, Prince “Lion” Nwoye will fight Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan. The light middleweight division will see a challenge duel between Ebubechukwu “Coded Man” Edeh up against Semiu “Jagaban” Olapade, two promising boxers discovered at the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search. The best boxer at the event, to be broadcast live by SuperSport in 47 African countries, will go home with  N1.5million.

  • ‘I’ll make security a priority’

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirant for Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos State Mr. Babafemi Saeed Adewale has promised to ensure that criminal activities are reduced drastically to enable residents to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation.

    In a chat with reporters in Ikeja, Mr. Adewale said he will ensure that the area becomes unsafe for criminals if elected chairman.

    He said: “I will collaborate with security agencies to ensure that criminal elements do not infiltrate the local government area.”

    Adewale, who commended the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in combating the menace of kidnapping, militancy and other vices, expressed his preparedness to complement the effort of the governor if elected as chairman of the local government.

    The aspirant, who said he would inaugurate more than 20 projects if elected, described as unacceptable lame excuse by elected individuals that fall in oil price in international market was responsible for their inability to execute people-oriented projects.

    “They are saying they cannot construct good roads, provide quality education; but their children are going outside the shores of Nigeria to further their education.

    “They claim that there is no money but they are buying properties abroad.”

    Mr. Adewale further explained that Ikeja Local Government Area generates much revenue that if properly put into use, would better the lives of the people.

    He promised to transform the local government by embarking on many projects that will alleviate the suffering of the people.

    He said he would establish citizen information centre where it would be easier for people to access pieces of information across the six wards of the local government.

    Realising the importance of job creation to the security of lives and property, the aspirant promised to liaise with relevant agencies and organisations in ensuring that jobs are made available for the unemployed youths.

    Adewale, who said he has some international organisations and associates willing to send books to him for the establishment of modern library if elected, stated that his administration would establish a welAl-equipped library to encourage research and reading culture among youths in the area.

  • Lagos beefs up security for Sallah

    Assures residents of hitch-free celebration

    The Lagos State Government is posting  security personnel  at strategic places in the state as part of efforts to protect life and property during the Eid-el-Kabir.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode  and heads of security agencies at a monthly security council meeting ahead of the festival on Thursday decided  that   praying grounds, amusement parks and malls  among others be well policed during and after the festival.

    Police Commissioner  FataiOwoseni who briefed  Government House Correspondents at the end of the meeting said the Council appraised the security strategies already put in place for the celebration and members were satisfied with the solid arrangement towards a successful celebration.

    The CP said: “We looked at all the strategies that have been put in place by all the security agencies and the support that the State Government is giving us and we are satisfied that we are well prepared to ensure that residents of Lagos have hitch-free holiday period and that the Muslim brothers and sisters also have a successful and hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir holiday.

    “Security agencies will be at all the strategic places including the Eid-el-Kabir praying ground, amusement parks and the malls so that by the time we are ending the holiday and the Sallah is finished, everybody will be happy to say that it is another successful holiday and it is another successful Eid-el-Kabir celebration.”

    Owoseni also clarified conflicting media reports on the casualties during  the mayhem between Hausa  and Fulani youths  at the  Agege Abattoir, saying that only one person was killed during the crisis.

    He said security agencies responded swiftly to douse the tension, adding that the mayhem was purely an issue of miscreants and criminal elements wanting to make life more difficult for the people.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command has deployed 6,500 men for the Eid-el- kabir celebration in  the state.

    The State Commandant, Tajudeen Balogun, in an  Eid-el-Kabir message to residents said the corps had deployed 6,500 men to ensure a peaceful celebration.

    He said officers of the Corps on leave had been recalled while all forms of leave had been suspended.

    “These officers are being strategically deployed to man government infrastructures, pipeline right of ways, vandal-prone areas, government houses, event centres, places of worship, garages, junctions, and flashpoint areas.”

    He enjoined residents to be very vigilant, careful and cautious while going about their normal activities and celebration.

    He said suspicious movement and activities should be reported to the Corps and other security agencies and that everyone should know that their common enemy were the criminals.

  • Council chief hails Ambode, security agencies

    The Sole Administrator of Iba Local Council Development Area, Hon. Yisa Abiola Jubril has commended the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the security agencies on the successful rescue of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni.

    Speaking in his office, the council chief said the governor’s effort was exemplary, saying it gave hope to the residents that their security is guaranteed.

    While thanking Governor Ambode, Jubril said the security apparatus of the state had been fortified with modern technology to track down kidnappers and wage total war against criminals anywhere they hide.

    ‘‘When Oba was kidnapped, nobody knew his health condition until when he was released.

    We thank God for sparing the life of Oba Oniba who was kidnapped. We are grateful to Ambode, the Commissioner of Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the entire Nigerians for the valuable information given to the police who led to the successful operation that led to the rescue of our Oba,” he said. Jubril assured the residents that efforts were being made to improve the living standard of the people.

  • Peterside suggests careful planning for good maritime security

    Peterside suggests careful planning for good maritime security

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said that good security in the maritime industry requires careful planning and strict implementation.

    Peterside stated this at the closing ceremony of a five-day training programme tagged “Train the Trainers’’, facilitated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and NIMASA on ISPS Code Compliance in Lagos.

    He said that the agency was committed to improving the fortunes of Nigeria by creating an enabling environment for a business-friendly and secured environment for stakeholders in the industry.

    The director-general said that the training was predicated on the premise that a fact -finding team was in Nigeria earlier in the year to conduct a Needs Assessment where a number of gaps were identified.

    According to Peterside, this necessitated the training, with a view to addressing some of the gaps identified.

    “I guess that in the course of this exercise, we have learnt that good security requires planning and stringent implementation.

    “I know that in the course of this training, the seed of co-operation and collaboration between NIMASA as Designated Authority (DA) for ISPS Code Implementation in Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Federal Ministry of Transportation has been planted.

    “My expectation and desire of the leadership of these Agencies is that it will grow and blossom in a tripartite series of planned training programmes.

    “This is expected to culminate with the lead auditors training, which will place you the drivers of the system at the cutting edge of professionalism in ISPS code implementation,’’ the director-general said.

    He thanked the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, for his support and enduring commitment to the imperatives of NIMASA’s DA status and indeed all matters pertaining to the maritime industry in Nigeria.

    Peterside urged participants to bring to bear the knowledge acquired during the five-day training programme, adding that this would enhance security at the nation’s ports.

  • National security and social protection

    SIR: The economic well-being or lack thereof of society has a clear and direct impact on the security of the society. Societal threats such as unemployment, mass poverty, unfair labour markets, etc., generally affect social cohesion negatively and tend to erode any form of identification with the state. The resulting disenchantment and distancing, often witnesses the “radicalisation” of its youth, and the birth and or strengthening of criminal organisations, narcotic cartels, jihadi-terrorists, and avenging militants, etc.

    Social protection programmes are commonly understood as initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks and enhance the social status of the marginalised, with the overall objective of reducing the economic and vulnerability of the poor, physically-challenged and marginalised groups in a given society.

    Social protection has however been more recently deployed as a tool and component of national security frameworks, with states ensuring the provision of safety nets for the poor and vulnerable, which in turn encourages them to be productive contributors to society, thus depriving terror groups and criminal organisations of an otherwise ready pool of talents and personnel.

    Hence, in appreciation of these realities and the emerging societal threats to national security, progressive governments around the world have generally adopted a multi-prong approach that combines conventional security and intelligence systems, with a healthy dose of social protection programmes.

    It is against this background, that a number of commentators have urged the Federal Government to begin to pay far greater attention to the harmonization and expansion of its social protection programmes in the country because contrary to the erroneous perception of ‘social protection’ as some fanciful western concept for prosperous nations, social protection is in fact an existential necessity for the security of any state in the 21st century.

    The security services, as effective and brave as they may be, cannot be locked in an endless cycle of conflicts and insurgencies across the federation; currently the Nigerian military is on active deployment in at least 15 states of the federation. To remedy the situation, the government must develop socio-economic and socio-political solutions to the myriad of security threats confronting Nigeria. Just as his eminence Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie stated in his widely circulated letter to President Buhari, “If there is no solution to Nigeria’s problem there may be endless war. You strike one town, you gain it, and you come again to regain it.”

    Social protection is thus no longer a luxury, but a critical economic and security need for all nations, both rich and poor. Nigeria needs to secure its future not by the force of arms alone, but by the deployment of efficient social protection programmes for its poor, it’s vulnerable and the physically-challenged.

     

    • UgochukwuAmasike,

    Lagos.

  • FIIRO chief: food security is achievable through SDGs

    Efforts at achieving food security and improved nutrition can be accelerated by adopting the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development  Goals (SDGs) agenda, the Director–General, Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Gloria Elemo, has  said.

    The SDGs aim at ending poverty by 2030.

    Mrs Elemo stressed that food and nutrition security must be viewed as essential dimensions of sustainable development and approached as critical elements in achieving government’s goals to make food available and affordable for Nigerians.

    In a paper presented at a forum in Lagos, she said unless the government was pragmatic enough to target the most-vulnerable, such as the poor, women in rural areas, small holder farmers, and those in parts of the North affected by insurgency, food security may not be achieved.

    The paper titled “Achieving Food Security and Improved Nutrition in Nigeria: Making the SDGs Work for Us”, canvassed the need to deploy science & technology in tackling issues ranging from yield and productivity, bridging yield gap, addressing post-harvests losses and effective management of the natural resources.

    Elemo said: “Science, technology and innovation are key to a robust transformation in the food system that will lead to increased agricultural production and productivity. It would also expand local agro-industry and value addition and improve management of natural resources for sustainable agricultural production”.

    The FIRRO boss said the research institute is poised to making significant contributions to food availability through processing, provision of prototype agricultural processing equipment and technology transfer. It also hopes to reduce post-harvest losses through processing and preservation of foods.

    Others are increasing food access through entrepreneurship training and women empowerment workshops as well as increase in job opportunities. This, Elemo said, will translate to improvement in incomes and also lead to more purchasing power for people.

    She, therefore, asked that science and technology innovation policy as recommended by the Ministry of Science & Technology be fully implemented such that strategies laid out for every sector including agriculture, water resources, and raw material production and linked to improving food security and nutrition can work in line with the  SDGs.