The IGP, Egbetokun cutting the tape to commission the 25 patrol vehicles donated to the police by Gov. Abiodun (middle) and the Deputy Gov. Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, extreme right.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has described the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun as the Number One Governor among his peers in terms of concern for safety of lives and properties of the people and residents of his state.
The IGP made this declaration during the week at the Arcade Ground, Ogun State Government Secretariat, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta when the state donated 25 patrol vehicles to the Police as well as three surveillance drones to monitor criminal activities in all parts of the state.
Egbetokun who was in the state for a 3-day official visit noted that the people of the state are lucky to have such a governor that is committed to safety of lives and properties.
The IGP expressed his appreciation for the donation of the vehicles which he said would be devoted to the effective patrol of the state.
He noted that the donation could not have come at a better time as the greatest challenge confronting the police in the state presently is logistics.
He said the drones will enable crime fighters to see criminals before they see them and hence be able to combat crime effectively.
Egbetokun lauded the donation as he stressed that it will assist the police tremendously and expressed the hope that other states would take cues from Ogun.
Earlier, the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, while presenting the vehicles to the IGP noted that the state acquired the drones purposely because of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which is prone to security infringements.
He called on security agencies to include technology in their efforts of fighting crime, noting that acquiring the drones was one of the proactive steps taken by his administration, in collaboration with Lagos and Oyo State governments to effectively monitor activities and ensure prompt response to emergencies on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Governor Abiodun, who had earlier received the IGP in his office said, “As a gesture of appreciation of you and all you are doing to law enforcement and effective policing in our state and by extension Nigeria, we have decided to complement you and your efforts by donating today, 25 patrol vans to the Police and our law enforcement architecture. This, we believe, will commemorate your first official visit to Ogun State.
“Towards ensuring peace in our state, we will continue to strengthen and support our already established Security Trust Fund by procuring relevant gadgets, including drones. We will continue to augment the allowances and living condition of our security personnel to motivate them to enhance security and safety in our state”, he said.
The governor said the state remains steadfast in fulfilling its constitutional role by prioritising the welfare and security of the people through fostering effective inter-agency cooperation among security agencies.
He stated that his administration in the past four and a half years, had procured more than 100 patrol vehicles and motorcycles, as well as over 300 communication gadgets for security agencies, in a bid to sustain peace, assuring that government would not relent in ensuring that residents live in a stable environment and engage in business activities without fear of molestation.
The governor lauded the police authority for its infrastructural development efforts in that State Command, particularly the new police headquarters building, the Technical Intelligence Unit, the Complaints Response Unit, and the Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun Multi-purpose Cooperative Hall, noting that community policing had strengthened the bond between the law enforcement and the community members and significantly improved the intelligence capacity of officers.
Also speaking in the Governor’s Office earlier, IGP Egbetokun, said his vision was to put in place, a professional and competent Police Force that is service-oriented, rule-of-law compliant, people’s friendly and positioned to respond appropriately and adequately to the dynamics of crimes in the society.
He acknowledged the massive infrastructural development across the state, disclosing that more police stations and Area Commands would be created, just as mobile policemen squadrons would be deployed to provide adequate security in the state.
