Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended the role of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in improving security architecture of the state towards protecting lives and property.
Sanwo-Olu specifically lauded the LSSTF Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun for his brilliant impact in ensuring that security agencies are well supported to carry out their functions in line with the enabling law establishing the Fund.
The Governor spoke at the 14th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security organized by LSSTF, with the theme “Lagos Security: Resilience In The Face Of Adversity.”
“I will like to congratulate the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun and I think he deserves another tenure.
“Well done for the good job you have done. I want to commend you and thank you very much,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Governor said it was gratifying that the state was able to contain major security threats, and assured that nothing would deter government from protecting lives and property in the state.
“I am delighted that we have been able to contain all major threats to our safety and security in Lagos State, and are now in a better position to prevent them in the future.
“Nothing will deter us from protecting the lives and property of Lagosians now and in the future. Safety and security will never be compromised in our state,” Sanwo-Olu assured.
On his part, Balogun said since the creation of LSSTF in 2007, the Fund has continued to deliver on its mandate to provide equipment, logistics and training for police and other security agencies in the state.
“Apart from providing major equipment such as patrol vehicles, communication repeaters including walkie talkies, base radios and communication masts, Armoured Personnel Carriers, Motorcycles, patrol boats, generators of various capacity, bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, uniforms, sweaters, leather boots, rain coats with boots, explosion detection kits, gunshot trauma treatment packs, etc.., the Fund also provides maintenance, repairs and consumables (batteries, tyres, disposable hand cuffs, fueling etc), routinely for the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), being the primary responsibility of the Fund, and on request for other police and security formations.
“Maintenance is the major expenditure guzzler, hence we have assets that are between 5 to 10 years and still in top shape due to the periodic maintenance and repairs by the Fund,” Balogun said.
Balogun, however, urged donors and public spirited individuals and organizations to continue to contribute to the Fund in order to keep on supporting security agencies, saying the recent aftermath of Endsars protests in which 46 police stations and 75 patrol vehicles were destroyed had made support for the Fund more pertinently important.
He also said six police officers were killed, while 106 others were injured.
“The implication of burning a police station is that there is no office from which the police can effectively carry out all their responsibilities. They also have a challenge of communication as a lot of these equipment have been burnt or vandalized.
“In summary, almost half of the police divisions in the state do not have an office, are not on the police communication network, do not have vehicles for mobility. These are key requirements to performing police duties.
“In addition, the morale of the men is low as they lost colleagues and personal property like cars, personal effects, uniforms, among others during the unrest. The Governor had visited the entire Command in a bid to uplifting their morale during which several requests were made and steps are being taken to address the requests,” Balogun said.
