13th December, 2021
The Lagos State Government at the weekend said collective security remained the only best way to tackle security challenges in the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, spoke at a one day awareness/sensitization programme on Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Agency (Amendment) Law 2020.
The programme with the theme: ‘Safeguarding our communities, it begins with me,’ was organised by the Office of the Civic Engagement in collaboration with Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
The Special Adviser maintained that to strengthen security and greatly reduce crime at the grassroots, all the residents of the state must be involved and ready to contribute their quota.
“It is in order to strengthen security and greatly reduce crime at the grassroots that we are gathered here to engage on the amendment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law 2020. If, according to the theme of today’s event, safeguarding our communities is to begin with everyone, then we must have an input in the amendment of the operational Law of our community policing outfit,” she said.
Adebowale commended the efforts of members of the Lagos State House of Assembly in modifying the Corps’ Law 2020 in view of its function as a community security outfit, just as she added that the entire residents irrespective of position, profession and religion, too should not leave the job for the outfit alone but should be able to see something, say something and do something immediately.
“The need to modify the Corps’ Law 2020 becomes imperative in view of its function as a community security outfit. The Corps is designed to provide a second layer of policing in order to ensure that all communities in the State are well-secured.
“Let me state that every contribution that is made at this gathering today will go a long way in assisting the Neighbourhood Corps to become better and stronger. Let me also stress that our convergence here is a demonstration of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s conviction that collective security is the best approach toward tackling security challenges in our dear State.
“Collective security guarantees the security of everyone in a given society and operates on the philosophy of being your brother’s keeper. Collaboration is key to tackling security challenges in the state. See something, say something and do something immediately,” Adebowale said.
General Manager of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps, Prince Ifalade Ajasa Oyekan, explained that the Corps operated in all the local governments and local council development areas in Lagos State, majorly to complement the work of the Nigeria Police in maintaining peace and order.
“Other functions being performed by the corps also involve gathering of information about crime and make such available to the Police, among others,” he said.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. AbdulRasaq Balogun, commended the efforts of the Lagos State House of Assembly in amending the Corps 2020 Law, just as he implored all and sundry to be their brothers’ keeper and do the least they could do in their community and vicinity however small it might be.