Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode on Monday launched the rebranded Lagos Neighbourhood Safety
Corps, with a pledge that the security of lives and property in the
State is now non-negotiable.
A total of 177 Salon Cars and Vehicles
equipped with necessary communication gadgets, 377 motorcycles, 377
helmets, 4,000 bicycles, metal detectors for ensuring that illegal
weapons are not smuggled into public places, among other operational
equipment were handed over to the Corps by the Governor.
Speaking at the official launch held
at Agege Stadium, Governor Ambode said the move was another giant step
towards enhancing security all over the State and a vital part of the
ongoing efforts of his administration to reform the security and justice
sector.
The Governor, who on August 15, 2016
assented to the law that created the Neighbourhood Safety Corps, said
the Corps had been designed to provide a second layer of policing in
order to ensure that the State and communities are more secure.
He acknowledged the fact that the
Nigerian Police had been very supportive to the State Government
especially in fighting crime, but that the need for the Neighbourhood
Corps arose from the identified security challenges confronting the
State due to huge population, adding that the members of the Corps would
complement police especially in areas of community policing.
“Let me, however, make it abundantly
clear that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps is not in any way in
competition with the regular Police Force.
“In actual fact, they are expected to
assist and complement the Police by providing useful intelligence for
crime prevention and to facilitate the arrest of perpetrators of
criminal activities in our communities,” Governor Ambode said.
He added that in realization of the fact
that nothing can be more important in law enforcement than educating the
people in charge of enforcing the law, the rebranded Neighbourhood
Corps have been trained and equipped with the requisite knowledge and
skills to complement the good work of the Nigerian Police.
He said in addition to the induction on
orthodox community policing techniques, the Corps were also trained on
how to mediate disputes and the art of negotiating for peaceful
resolution; balancing communal interest in resolving disputes and
proactive policing engagement instead of reactive policing.
“Special hotlines have also been created
direct to the Executive Secretary and senior management of the
Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency for easy communication with our
communities in the event of any crime.
“Any valuable information given to the
Corps will attract handsome rewards from the State Government. I
therefore call on all Lagosians to join hands with us to say a final NO
to crime in our State.
“All these equipment have been made
possible through the judicious use of tax payers money and funds from
the State Lottery Fund for good causes. Please continue to pay your
taxes for a better Lagos.
“I am very happy to state that through
this Safety Corps initiative the State Government has created over 7,000
jobs for officers of the Corps, artisans and other support staff. Job
creation is at the heart of economic prosperity and we remain fully
committed to a more prosperous Lagos for our citizens,” the Governor
said.
The Governor, however, charged the Corps
not to indulge in brutalizing citizens, but that they should exercise
lot of restraint, patience, understanding and maturity while carrying
out their duties.
Besides, the Governor said in order to
further strengthen security, a new executive bill to regulate employment
of domestic workers and security guards would soon be forwarded to the
State House of Assembly, explaining that the bill, among others, will
prescribe regulations for the set of workers and other details to
monitor their activities.
While noting that there is no longer any
room for child abuse or under aged workers, Governor Ambode said it had
been discovered that domestic workers were largely undocumented and pose
a grave security threat in the State.
He also said the recruiting agencies, under the bill, would be licensed and regulated to ensure safety.
The Governor also handed over four vans
fitted with Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs) to the Rapid
Response Squad (RRS) of the State Police Command.
Earlier, Commissioner for Special Duties
and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Oluseye Oladejo said the launch of
the Neighbourhood Corps and the handing over of several equipment to the
agency was an eloquent testimony of a visionary government which had
decided to move ahead of emerging challenges of crime.
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