EVOLVING NEW STRATEGIES TO COMBAT INSECURITY IN LAGOS

Ayo Afuwape

No significant change can be seen or experienced if the same method is being used to perform the same action repeatedly. For a change to be visible, new dimensions and strategies must evolve to usher in such change. Albert Einstein better captured this truth in his popular quote “insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Hence, in order to attain better or new results and get to new heights, new strategies of doing things must be adopted. It is, perhaps, based on this line of thought that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, premised his call for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to evolve new strategies in combating crime.

The maiden edition of Lagos State Government 4-day leadership retreat for members of the State Executive Council, Body of Permanent Secretaries as well as Heads of Parastatals and Agencies of government was recently held in Lagos. As usual, the retreat afforded the executive arm of government the opportunity to deliberate on salient issues and plans to move the state forward. Expectedly, two major issues that characterized discourse at the retreat are Lagos traffic gridlock and security.

Being the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, Lagos has massive security challenges bearing in mind its estimated 21 million population, its ports and waterways, its border with Benin Republic (which makes it accessible to international robbers, smuggling, child/human trafficking) as well as its numerous banks, industries, companies, and other commercial enterprises. In re-strategising for a better surveillance of Lagos and in nipping the activities of criminals and hoodlums in the bud, the police should desist from disclosing its plans and in communicating its intentions in details to the public. In most developed cities of the world, security information is considered exclusive and such should not be carelessly divulged. What is of interest to the public is the fact that crime rate is drastically reduced regardless of which method is evolved to achieve this. This may be one of the several reasons the battle against the dreaded Boko Haram is yet to be fully won.

Undoubtedly, the security situation in the country remains precarious. People are still quite cautious about moving freely within the country, even in broad daylight while greater doom awaits those whose legitimate activities revolve working round the clock or mostly at night. The scale of kidnapping, robbery attacks, ritual killings, murder and other devious crimes, appear to continue at a skyrocket rate. This is clearly a sign of the times we are in. The security agencies are not faring better in the blame game. So, obviously, Lagos is only having its share of this national phenomenon. The good thing about the experience is that the State Government is working round the clock to redress the situation. This explains why it was one of the major issues discussed at the recently held retreat.

One of the earliest tasks of Governor Ambode was to meet with individuals and corporate organisations that made commitments of over one billion naira in cash and kind towards advancing the cause of a safer Lagos. Consequently, 10 brand new Hilux vehicles and 15 motorbikes were handed over to the Lagos State Police Command as part of the state government’s commitment to ensure a secured and investors’ friendly state. Likewise, 100 new power bikes, 10 armoured tanks and a helicopter have been acquired by the state government to reinforce the security of the state. This is in addition to the purchase of 100 new squad cars for a new initiative tagged Special Operation Service (SOS), which will harmonize community policing in partnership with the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). All these are to complement several other supports enjoyed by the police from successive governments in the state over the years.

It is the conviction of the state government that insecurity could spell doom for the state’s drive for foreign investment, affect business activities generally and also have negative effects on the economy. This is responsible for the governor’s call for a paradigm shift in the police modus operandi for combating crime. Efforts of the state government in the provision of working tools to the police and in cushioning their welfare packages must reflect in terms of crime reduction and in the overall safety of the Lagos metropolis. It is only when resources ploughed into securing the state reflect in the reduction of criminal activities in the state that such investment could be said to be meaningful.

Therefore, officers and men of the Nigeria police should be more proactive in fighting crime and in anticipating the antics and tactics of men of the underworld. Equally, other stakeholders in the state must join hands with the State Government and the security agencies to achieve a secured metropolis. When it comes to security matter, everybody has a role to play and as such we should all endeavour to provide information and other useful forms of support to the police and other security agencies. This will certainly be the bedrock for the much touted community policing to thrive. The onus of this responsibility rests with members of the public.

As we approach the festive period, with all its attendant panic and worries, the police should not only come out to assure residents if the state of their security but members of the public on their own should perceive a difference and see that the security of the state has greatly improved. Meanwhile, for emergency situations and other security related matters, Lagos residents could avail themselves of the toll free hotlines: 767 and 112.
— Afuwape, writes from Ministry of Information and strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.