- We’ll use technology to fight crime
By Adeyinka Aderibigbe
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday restates his administration’s commitment to the development of a smart city that would be primed on 21st century technology.
He spoke at the 13th Town Hall meeting of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), which held at the Civic Centre, on highbrow Victoria Island, Lagos.
“We are determined to use the LSSTF to pioneer our effort at building a smart city which will launch our capacity and capability in security to the next level. We will use technology to rejig our command and control centre, install thousands of cameras enabling our systems. In the new year, we will begin to make procurements in line with such vision,” he said.
According to him, LSSTF will be from next year begin to play a very significant role in the new vision of the administration which would see to a modernisation of the control centre, and the installation of closed circuit cameras and other intelligence gathering gadgets that would promote a tech-driven security network.
In the new vision, the LSSTF, Governor Sanwo-Olu further disclosed would also be expected to look beyond the Police as other arms of security apparatchik of the state, including the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps (LSNC), Lagos State Environment and Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), would be retooled with up to date equipment to enhance their capacities.
The governor seized the occasion to praise all partners of the Fund since its establishment in 2007, especially banks, insurance companies, members of the organized private sector and other high networth individuals for their continued assistance, adding that though the state government will not abdicate its responsibility of policing the state, it needs the partnership of the private sector to assist by providing the intervention fund needed to provide equipment and tools that would enhance the task of effective policing of the state.
“It is our responsibility to keep our state safe and secured, but we need to quickly point out too that security is everybody’s business, that is why we need the private sector to partner with us. The Fund is an intervention fund and is not meant to take over the operations and responsibilities of government.” Sanwo-Olu said.
Earlier, LSSTF’s Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun said the Fund is a product of the visionary contributions of former Inspector General of Police Musiliu Smith, whose committee recommended the establishment of the Fund, and the pioneer board who have worked tirelessly to ensure the stability of the agency as a critical intervention agency to enhance the capacity of the security architecture of the state.
Balogun who observed that security is sacroscant to the health and well being of any society called for continued support of all high networth individuals and corporate Nigerians to the growth and development of the society.
He said the Fund has succeeded so well that other states are today towing the same path to provide the needed intervention to enhance the capacity of the security forces to strengthen the security of their respective states.
The Chairman of the Fund, Mr Oye Hassan-Odukale said the Fund is happy that it is celebrating the 13th Town Hall meeting with one of the founding fathers of the Fund as the Governor of the state.
He said in line with the theme of the event:” Transformational security,” the Fund will not only be responsive to the changes of security challenges, but will going forward begin to think from the future to the present.
Present at the event are captains of industries, high networth personalities, friends and associates of the state government, especially partners of the Fund, past cabinet members among whom are Dr Muiz Banire SAN, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, and present cabinet members led by the Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Amzat, the Commissioner of Information and Strategy Mr Gbenga Omotoso, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka among others.