invasion of Lagos and Ogun community by unknown
gunmen, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Fatai Owoseni said residents have lost trust in the
country’s police formation. Owoseni expressed his
concern at the at the City Hall, Lagos, venue of the
2016 Stakeholders Forum organised by the Office
of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Central
Business District (CBD) themed: ”Toward a Lagos
Island CBD Renaissance: Meaningful Insights and
Commitment,” yesterday.
The police commissioner, who was represented by
Chief Superintendent of Police, Olusegun Ajamolaya,
the Divisional Police Officer of Victoria Island,
lamented that Nigerians do not have trust in the
police recognized by the 1999 constitution.
Owoseni who was one of the discussant at the
security session which also include the Executive
Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund,
LSSTF, Mr. Abdul-Rasak Balogun, General Manager
of AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Moruf Apampa, Barrister
Kayode Adeluola, Chief Executive Officer of
Integrated System and Devices Ltd, Mr. Oluseun
Mabogunje and moderated by the former secretary
of LSSTF, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey.
According to him, “The major problem we have now
is for the citizens to have trust in us; they do not
trust the police they have. They believe that if they
give information to the police, they will sell out. And
due to this, the maximum cooperation we should
get from the citizens is lacking.
“We believe that larger percent of the reasons
acclaimed by the residents were stereotype. The
Nigerian police are evolving daily. We want you to
have faith in us and I believe that we will not
disappoint you,” Owoseni added. He argued that
when information are divulged earlier, it would aid
crime prevention, noting “crime prevention is the
key to achieving a safe and secured society. If we
are able to achieve that, other aspect of policing is
secondary.
This is because we will be proactive and not
reactive. Owoseni said the level of insecurity in the
country demanded that “everyone must be alert; that
is why we are promoting community policing.
Nigerians Police is not effective; we work day and
night to ensure that the state is safe. “Policing
Lagos is a big task especially as it concerns the
population, the mode of crime committed and the
unemployment rate in the state. That is why we
have adopted to proactive and not the reactive
strategy,” he said.
Ambode commends foreign, local investors
Meantime, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the
same forum said that the activities of both local
and foreign investors in the state are key indicators
that would trigger economic growth and enhance
the emerging opportunities in the socio-economic
landscape of the state. The governor also
commended the enthusiasm of investors and
entrepreneurs to put their money in good
investments in the state.
He added that the present administration is also
providing more opportunities to investors and
entrepreneurs in the emerging economic profile of
the Lagos Mega City in the various sectors of real
estate development, marine transportation,
commercial and business activities. Ambode, who
was represented at the Forum by the Secretary to
the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, said the
focus of his administration since inception has been
to put in place necessary structures that would
sustain a 24/7 economy in the “New Lagos”,
adding that despite the global economic challenges,
“we have ensured that the business districts
functioned effectively to move the wheel of
economic growth in the Lagos Mega City,” he said.
