The Lagos State Government has revealed its plan to boost security by deploying technology and delivering new security equipment to the Police and other security agencies operating in the State.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat made this known when he appeared on “TVC News .
Hamzat assured Lagosians that the administration is working towards zero crime incidents as just one reported case of robbery in traffic or attack is bad enough for the State.
Speaking on the provision of security, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat stated that Lagos is working with the Commissioner of Police to reinforce security and has introduced many initiatives to boost the morale of officers such as the provision of life insurance and regular procurement of equipment by replacing the bad ones to ensure they are well equipped for the onerous responsibility of securing lives and property.
His words: “There is no way crime can be completely eliminated and the effort of the administration is to keep it at the barest minimum but the morale of the Police was seriously challenged by the attack on their facilities and the killing of about six officers during the EndSARS protest. Our people must come to terms with the popular saying that if you want to fight the Police, make a deal with the criminals”.
In response to the various commendations given to the State Government for its plan to phase out commercial motorcycle popularly called Okada and the advise to engage those who will be affected, Dr Hamzat assured that the plan of the State Government is for the youths to redevelop their skills, through retooling, to make them get a good life as he said that riding commercial motorcycles is not a dependable and life-long enterprise.
Speaking further, Hamzat said that the Joint Development Commission recently established by the Lagos and Ogun State Governments is long overdue considering the extent to which the two States have integrated into each other.
“It makes sense to cooperate and collaborate, especially on issues bordering on border and tax matters. Our future is tied together and we can work together towards the joint progress of the two States”.
On road construction and rehabilitation, he said that the administration is approaching it in phases while ensuring that such projects are spread to extend development to every part of the State.
He referred to the recent commissioning of Agege Pen Cinema Flyover and bridge works, the flag-off of Hospital Road in Badagry and ongoing construction of Lekki-Epe Expressway, Phase 1, among such strategic interventions as he assured Lagosians that such projects will get to other parts of the State.
To ensure effective management of the huge volume of waste generated daily and sustain the quality of existing and new roads, Dr. Hamzat stated that the administration is doing a lot to run an efficient and effective waste disposal system and clear the drains all year round.
He disclosed that the challenges with the PSP operators have been resolved while the government is introducing forty new compactor trucks to be deployed across the State and local production of large waste bins stepped up to ease the carting away of refuse at different locations.
He further stressed the importance attached to the provision of qualitative education and provision of a conducive environment for teaching and learning, just as he declared that the administration has built forty-nine thousand classrooms and complimentary facilities, embarked on massive training of teachers in both primary and secondary schools, adopted technology for teaching through Eko Excel Programme and increased schools attendance.
