Fashola insists on State police • Wants special status for Lagos

By Maxwell Oditta and Ekene Okoro, Lagos

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has reiterated his call for State Police as a veritable way of addressing security problem across the country

The governor also insisted that the state deserves a special status, in view of its pivotal role in the revenue generation of the country.

Fashola said special allocation from the federation account and provision of infrastructure, as well as effective security arrangement, are part of the unique needs of Lagos.

According to him, these provisions would enhance the development of the state, and the well-being of Nigerians from different backgrounds living in Lagos.

Fashola made the call at a world press conference at Lagos House, Ikeja, at the weekend, which was convened to commemorate 10 years of democracy in Nigeria and the two years celebration of his administration.

The governor reasoned that Lagos, as the economic nerve-centre of the country, with the most strategic seaports and airport, deserves a special status.
He said Lagos is a mini-Nigeria, compromising all various ethnic, religious and social backgrounds from across the country.

Fashola pointed out that should Lagos attain its Mega City status, the Federal Government would share in the credit, saying, "The greatness of Lagos is the greatness of Nigeria."

He revealed that his administration would soon embark on various projects, including the ambitious metroline, conceived under the administration of Lateef Jakande in the Second Republic.


According to him, the objective of the metroline project is to ease the problems of transportation in the state.


Fashola, who scored his administration high, stressed the importance of security, noting that no meaningful infrastructural development or investments can be carried out without security of life and property.


His words: "We cannot continue to implement policies and programmes that history and experience have clearly shown to be inefficient, and refused to change, while expecting things to be different.


"Now, all other federations that I know recognise the coordinate jurisdiction of the federating units. Therefore, you even ask yourself if the point has been put to those who made the Constitution at its conception. We should ask them if they remember that they actually created a legislative arm for each state and even created state courts? If the courts gave rulings, who will carry out these orders?


"I am sure if these questions had been put to them during the debates, they will know that they have made a mistake and put the Police there to enforce the law. And that is what is happening everywhere," he said.


On soldiers' involvement in the security arrangement of the state, Fashola said it was borne out of necessity, explaining that there were not enough police personnel to secure the state effectively.

"Clearly, the military has its responsibility, not only to protect the territorial integrity of the country, but also from internal and external aggression. And if you look at it, they assist only in areas of violent crimes.

"You don't have soldiers in police stations harassing people. It is clearly lack of enough personnel in the Police that compelled the state to look for solution elsewhere," Fashola said.

Meanwhile, Fashola has reiterated that his administration would not be distracted by the accolades accompanying his current performance, to lose focus or deviate from its programmes.

The governor said insinuations about a second term for him remains speculation, saying his administration would continue to fulfil its electoral promises to indigenes of the state.

His words: "From inception, our administration made it a point of duty to invest every minute of our time in achieving our overall policy thrust of poverty alleviation and sustainable economic growth. I can, therefore, tell you confidently that in the last 17,520 hours, 1,051,200 minutes and 63,072,000 seconds that make up the last two years since our assumption of office in 2007, we have relentlessly pursued the greatest happiness for the greatest number of our people", he said

Fashola also noted that the state has achieved much in the areas of providing efficient transportation network, which, according to him, is the pivot on which the economy of any modern mega city revolves.

He revealed that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lite System, a brainchild of his predecessor, Bola Tinubu, has since its commencement transported over 52 million passengers as at March 17, 2009, adding that the system has also been strengthened with the introduction of LAGBUS.

He also noted that his administration was also making concerted efforts to maximise the water transportation potential of the state, as it has facilitated the operations of City Link Limited and Metro Ferry, which currently offer ferry services between Badore to Marina, and Ikorodu to Marina respectively, through public and private partnerships.

Fashola said the state was committed to delivering two of the planned seven-rail network, namely the Red Line from Agbado to Marina, and the Blue Line from Okokomaiko to Marina.


The governor also revealed that contractors have been paid to transform the Lagos Badagry Expressway into a 10-lane international highway with BTR routes, pedestrian walkways and light rail mass transit routes.

Meanwhile, eminent Nigerians have continued to laud the state administration for its achievements in the last two years.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, described Fashola as a mechanic.

According to him, "Fashola diagnoses the problems and goes at it like a skilled mechanic. You know, he wants to know what will work, while what will not work he set out to eliminate. He is transforming Lagos State ruthlessly because he is not a politician."

Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, rather sees Fashola as a brand, saying, "Governor Fashola is one of the great brands of Nigeria, and one of the faces which Nigeria can show to the world. Everyone is excited about the opportunity of meeting the governor, because of the giant strides he has recorded in such a short time. His great work will boost the re-branding project of Nigeria."

On his part, Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Ephraim Ademowo, described Fashola as a stickler for thoroughness and excellence in government.

He noted that Fashola epitomised commitment to the principle of transparency and accountability.

"He is not only a visible action governor, but opinion poll recently conducted showed that he has transformed Lagos. Definitely, he is taking Lagos to higher heights", he concluded.

biina:

State police should not be implemented in Nigeria with the current crop of leaders.
They will only be used as political tools and become a private army to the incumbent state governors.

State police will end up being no more than unformed political thugs.

bawomolo:

Are federal police any better?

lagerwhenindoubt:

I think the idea is appropriate but the current political environment will ensure it is used for political gain.

I have been robbed at home twice in 2007 and once in 2008 (This year has been smooth so far) and a friend got robbed last night at home. in all instances a police check point was several meters away from my house, infact there is a police station on my street. Adetola Str. robberies occur like there was no form of security and i realized why.

Fed Police are not prepared psychologically for the day's business because they busy collecting passage fees from okadas and bus drivers (occasionally the unfortunte tax-paying citizen who forgot his drivers license)

A well trained state police and well paid ones will do a better job

Backslider:

@post

Fashola does not need to waste his time making statements.
What he should do is to create a non armed security service.When he has proved his point with this non armed security service he would be able to make case for them to carry arms.

AS it is now Fashola nothing stops Fashola from

1) Building more courts
2) building more prison and (making Churches and mosque to adapt them)
3) Nothing stops him from having a voluntary prison service
4) Nothing stops him from having a Lagos state voluntary police Service(Non)


The only thing is that they should not carry weapons.

He would not be breaking any law if any one is arrested taken to a state court and if found guilty put in a state prison.

JJYOU:

i hate to say this so long as they are recruiting nigerians it will be almost be as bad as the police we already have.

Mad_Max:

This might be a silly question, but [b]does that mean regular police get pulled out of Lagos State?[/b]And the State Police won't be patterned after that hugely inefficient,backwoods failure of a police force? In what ways will his state police be different from regular police, monikers apart?