Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated the demand for State Police in the country, saying it will help governors to protect the life and property of their citizens.

Sanwo-Olu made the call when the Commissioners of Police Service Commission (PSC), led by the acting chairman, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd), paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina, on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the governor said his administration will continue to provide adequate first-class security for the entire local and foreign citizens within the state.

He said: “We reiterate and seek your cooperation on our collective agitation for a State Police. This is my view and the view of a lot of my colleagues and citizens that given the age of our democracy, policing at the community level is not only desirable, but it is also important and it is what should be done and what we require.

“We will continue to advocate for State Police. We have said that State Police is not in any form to retrench or reduce whatever the Nigerian Police is doing now. There would still be clear responsibility that would be federal in nature; they would still have direct responsibility and oversight to continue to address.

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“We also know that if you look at the ratio of policemen to our huge population, we are still far from what it should be. So, for us, it is really another level of employment generation; providing what we are sworn to do, which is the protection of life and property; ensuring there is peace and tranquillity within our state.

“We know it is a constitutional thing and we are pushing at various stakeholders’ levels but even at an administrative point of view, let the point be made that when you (the Commissioners of Police Service Commission) came to Lagos, these are our own views and reasons. It is not long overdue and everybody can do it at their own measure.

“We have a huge task to continue to provide adequate first-class security for our entire local and foreign citizens that are here in large numbers. The population is growing on a daily basis and we need to be proactive to be able to respond and be able to ensure that we don’t have space for criminal-minded people or people that have other intentions within our own territory.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who commended the work of the Lagos Police Command led by the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, said his administration will continue to encourage the police to do what is right at all times.

On her part, Justice Ogunbiyi commended Sanwo-Olu’s administration on security, saying security is top-notch in Lagos State.

She said: “We can see that security is top notch in Lagos and there is a lot of safety here and we wish and desire that other states within the country will also emulate Lagos because of the security situation which is top notch. Lagos is a model of how to handle security situations.

“The police are doing a good job in Lagos and they could also replicate in all other states and parts of the country. This is basically why we are here, to appreciate the governor and that he should continue with the good work.”

She stated that the PSC will ensure that police work within the law and ensure that they are well looked after, adding that the commission will make sure the community has confidence in the police.

The Star