By Seyi Babalola
The Joint Technical Committee on Security for Oyo and Ogun States, on Friday, assured residents and motorists of adequate security and safety of lives and properties during the Yuletide season, particularly in border areas and highways of both states.
The committee gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ security meeting held at the Dominion University, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, stating that the meeting was held to strengthen safety measures for both states.
Addressing journalists before the closed-door meeting, Special Adviser on Security to Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd) and his Ogun State counterpart, AIG Olusola Subair (rtd), explained that it was necessary for the committee to review its activities since inception and strategise to improve the security architecture put in place for the people to enjoy the Yuletide with peace and public order.
The duo implored members of the public to be security-conscious, noting that security is the obligation of everyone.
The meeting had in attendance the Special Advisers on Security to both state governors, the Consultant on Security to the Ogun State governor, the Special Adviser on Homeland Security to the Oyo State governor, the Executive Assistant on Security to the Oyo State governor, service commanders in both states and other key stakeholders in the security sector.
Owoseni and Subair added that traffic officers and highway managers have been included in the stakeholders’ meeting to ensure public order on highways, enjoining members of the public to always report any suspicious act to the security agents and control centres of both states.
Owoseni said: “The media have been following happenings on Lagos-Ibadan express road. You are aware that in 2021, the governments of Oyo and Ogun states met and put in place a joint committee on security for the two states. So, this is a baby of that body, which has been named the Technical Working Group
“Since 2021, in furtherance of the communiqué made by the two governors, this group has been meeting to look at areas of concern with regards to security and safety for the two states. This is just another one of those meetings that we have called to review the strategy that has been in place on our highways.
“This is the festive season where more people will use our highways. So, we are here to look at what we have in place and see if there are gaps there. We want to look at those cases that have come out in the media which, in some cases, were over-dramatised or exaggerated.
“So, we want to look at the whole thing altogether and see how we can reinvigorate what we are doing on the road so that we can give assurance to motorists not just for people in Oyo and Ogun states but everyone that uses the highway.
“We want to reassure them that the governors of the two states are determined and deliberate with what they are doing to ensure that we have a safer and more secure highway during this yuletide period.
“You can see we have the commanders of the security agencies of both states and the heads of other security agencies. You can also see that the traffic people are here, because we are looking at both traffic and security management together.
“Once again, we assure motorists and everyone in both states and people that are not from the two states of their safety and security on the road.
“We also want to implore them to know that, for security, it is an obligation to know that spread across everybody. They should also, at this period, raise their security consciousness. If they see something, they should say something. If you notice any security suspicion, especially in Oyo State, call the 615 emergency number and, as a government, we will do something.”
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Security to the Ogun State governor, AIG Subair (rtd), said the Technical Working Group met to review the existing security strategies put in place to secure the inter-state highways with a view to stepping up the security of lives and property and safety measures for a safe and more secure road for motorists.
Speaking on the communique issued after the stakeholders’ meeting, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat, said the committee reviewed the existing security apparatus and strategies put in place to secure the inter-state highways with a view to stepping up security of lives and properties and the safety measures for a safe and more secured roads for motorists.
“Motorists are enjoined to cooperate with security operatives and report any acts of misconduct using the national emergency security number 112, the Oyo state citizens enquiry number 615, the Ogun state Police control number 08081770416 and Oyo state police control number 07055495413 and 0801768614,” CP Hamzat said.
Commending the Oyo and Ogun state governors for prioritising security matters as well as the efforts of the technical working committee on security for both states, the Chancellor, Dominion University, Ibadan, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, confirmed that kidnapping and banditry had reduced drastically on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
He stressed that adequate security is the pointer to economic buoyancy, advising travellers during the Yuletide season to be conscious of their movement.