WorldStage Newsonline-- Lagos State
Government has handed over two patrol
vessels to Nigeria Navy to enhance
surveillance and security of the waterways.
The vessels, known as Croq 450 VGT, are
technically equipped to see clearly under
darkness including any hiding object.
Besides, it is fitted with gun mounts and
multi - ammunition capability for defensive
manoeuvres.
While handing over the gun boats to the
authority, Fashola noted that security forces
in Nigeria have capabilities adding what
needed to be done is to listen to them when
they make suggestions on security matters.
The governor emphasized the need to take
another look at the structure of security in
Nigeria, stressing that decentralization of
the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) remains the
best option, and that it will only be
reasonable for states who fund security
agencies to also lay claim to them.
“The idea of a decentralized police force is
an idea whose time has come”, he said and
called on those urging the state to make
more of the vessels available to join their
voice in the clamour for more funds for the
states.
“If we have more funds, you will definitely
have more”, he said.
In his reaction, Flag Office Commanding
Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral
Aminu Ikioda thanked the governor for the
gesture, stressing that provision of the
vessels could not have come at a better time.
Speaking through Commander NNS Beecroft,
Commodore Martins Njoku, he said the
boats will assist security agencies to make
their presence felt along the coastline,
adding that they will be used basically to
prevent dumping of waste along the
waterways.
Ikioda called on the governor to provide
more of the vessels so as to effectively tackle
security challenges on the water ways.
In his address Commissioner of Police Lagos
State Umaru Manko noted that the task of
policing the state has been made easier by
the provision of requisite infrastructures by
the state government.
“Everything needed by the police to perform
effectively is here”, he said, adding that
policemen posted to the state have no
excuse to fail.
Earlier, Executive Secretary, Lagos State
Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr. Fola Arthur-
Worrey thanked Fashola for his relentless
pursuit of security of her citizens and
visitors, stressing that the gunboats
provided have both offshore and onshore
capabilities.
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