Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, donated 150 new vehicles, alongside 30 patrol cars to boost the anti-insecurity efforts of the police force within the state.
Other donations received by the troops include four high-capacity troop carriers and two anti-riot water cannon vehicles, two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 200 security patrol bikes, 1,000 units of ballistic vests, 1,000 ballistic helmets, 1,000 handheld walkie-talkies, office furniture, and other ancillary resources.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was visiting the state, personally took inventory and commissioned the security equipment before Governor Sanwo-Olu handed over the equipment to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, for the use of Lagos Police Command.
The gadgets were procured through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) – an autonomous agency that partners with the private sector and individuals to provide vital support to security agencies.
Buhari said the equipment would go a long way in boosting the morale of the police, and enhance their capacity to fight crime.
Sanwo-Olu said the investment in the security gadgets was timely, given the setback recorded in security operations occasioned by the violence that followed the EndSARS protests, last October.
The state’s police command, the governor said, suffered losses in infrastructure and logistics, while the morale of the personnel dropped as a result of the impact.
Since then, the governor pointed out that “Lagos had felt the negative effects of the loophole in security architecture, accounting for a rising wave of criminal activities by hoodlums seeking to take advantage of vulnerability”.
“No society can survive without a motivated and well-equipped Police Force,” the governor said.
“Hoodlums and criminals know this; hence, the relentless attacks on police installations nationwide. It is our responsibility as Government to ensure that criminals’ nefarious aims are not achieved. They seek to demoralise and destabilise the police and other law enforcement agents, but we will continue to boldly proclaim, ‘Not on our watch’.
“Today, Lagos State Government is handing over brand new crime-fighting equipment to the State Police Command as our own way of assisting the Police Force to rebuild after the violence and massive destruction that followed the EndSARS protests last October.
“We are determined to stabilise the security situation in Lagos State, as our own contribution towards lasting national security.”
