Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday
evening said the State Government spent over N15billion last year to beef up
security and ensure the safety of lives and property.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at a dinner held at the Lagos
House in Ikeja, in honour of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim
Idris, who was on a two-day working visit to the State, said security, being
one of the tripods upon which he administration is built, has improved drastically
since he assumed office.
He attributed the development to the sustainability of
the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), a template, he said has helped to
champion funding of security agencies to carry out effective policing across
the State.
"Like the IGP said yesterday, the template of which
we are using to run the Security Trust Fund is worthy of emulation and he has
also averred that they would like to replicate it in other parts of the country
and also for men of the Nigeria Police Force,” the Governor said.
Recommending the LSSTF model to other States, Governor
Ambode said the initiative has gotten serious buy-in by the public, revealing
that out of the N15billion spent on security last year, the private sector
contributed over N5billion.
The Governor particularly commended the efforts of former
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith, who is the Chairman of the
LSSTF, saying that the model he midwifed in 2007 has changed the face of
security in the State.
"That same template that he (Smith) brought to Lagos
that we have continued to use in the last 14 years and it’s been working and in
different forums, he has shared how he started it and how we have also improved
on it.
"For us to be having the private sector, just to
give you a very clear example, as at last year, we have spent as a government
close to the region of N10billion, but the private sector has actually
contributed more than N5billion of their own money into the Security Trust
Fund.
"There is no way the private sector would do that if
they don’t believe in the cause of our Security Trust Fund. So I want to
recommend it also to others, it is something that could work in other States.
Like you said, funding is a major issue for security in this country and then
we can have partnerships with the private and public sector to also help in
securing the country," Governor Ambode said.
Stressing that security remains fundamental to the
development of the nation's economy, the Governor assured that the State
Government would continue to support the Police and other security agencies.
Besides, Governor Ambode also commended the IGP for his
commitment to ensure effective policing across the country and especially in
Lagos, however urging him to continue to do more in that regard.
"What we are doing tonight is in honour of the IGP
as a testimony of our affection and acceptance to the quality of service he has
continued to render to this country and most especially Lagos State.
"I would like to say a big thank you for having that
deep interest in Lagos and that you should never set your eyes off all the
activities of Lagos.
"We believe strongly that if Lagos is peaceful, here
would be life in other parts of the country. I believe the task ahead is
greater than the things that you have achieved in just a few months that you
have been there and I believe you would make your own mark just like your
predecessors," the Governor said.
Earlier, IGP Ibrahim Idris said that despite the
cosmopolitan nature of the State that makes policing difficult, officers posted
to Lagos were enjoying the very best in terms of equipment and welfare.
He said the visit afforded him the opportunity to learn
more strategies adopted by the State Government in the business of securing
lives and property.
"Like I said, Lagos has been a sort of pace setting
State for us, it has given some areas that we are tapping from.
"What I want to say is that possibly by the time we
want to implement the Security Trust Fund, we are still going to tap from one
of the Lagosians here, a retired Inspector General, for us to gain from his
wisdom in that area," he said.
The IGP said he was highly honoured by the reception
given to him since he arrived, saying that the hospitality of Lagosians was
second to none.
"I have been overwhelmed since I came to this State.
I doubt if there is any other State that has this kind of hospitality that we
have seen since yesterday (Thursday). Honestly, I am overwhelmed and I
appreciate all the attention that we have received both from the royal fathers
and from your office.
"Virtually everybody in Lagos is very enterprising,
you can feel the friendliness in the atmosphere, I want to thank all of you for
the support you have given our police force and obviously for the support you
are giving our officers on the ground," the IGP said.