Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Governor Babajide Sanwo_Olu

  • Lagos Gov Okays Body Worn Cameras for LASTMA, VIS, Safety Corps, Others

    Lagos Gov Okays Body Worn Cameras for LASTMA, VIS, Safety Corps, Others

    • ‘Initiative Will Enhance Safety, Boost Investors’ Confidence’ – Governor Sanwo-Olu

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, rolled out a groundbreaking plan for the enhancement of security and safety in Lagos State. The Governor approved a mass training for the State’s law enforcement personnel on the use of body worn cameras, ahead of the deployment of the digital tools for security operations across the State.

    The three-day training, which will commence in May, will be facilitated by the State’s Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI), headed by Prince Oyekan Falade. After the training, all State-funded law enforcement officers will be commissioned to wear body cameras for their operations.

    Sanwo-Olu said the move would improve transparency and accountability in the activities of law enforcement agencies, and put the State Government in a better position to respond to security challenges in real time.

    Provision of adequate security, the Governor said, is a key pillar of his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda, stressing that the initiative reflected his Government’s resolution to ensure Lagos remained secure for residents and investors.

    He said: “I am pleased to inaugurate the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers in Lagos and this is a groundbreaking move to enhance safety in the State, as well as increase transparency and accountability in the activities of our law enforcement agencies. Lagos State has strategically set the pace among other States in Nigeria to launch the use of body worn cameras by law enforcement officers.

    “The security challenges in different parts of the country are worrisome, but with proactive action, the use of modern technological tools, and a mix of well-trained and intelligent officers, we will successfully combat many of these challenges. With body-worn cameras, our law enforcement officers are better equipped to protect lives and properties, thereby, making Lagos safer for us all.”

    Sanwo-Olu said the launch of the body-worn cameras would take the Government a step closer towards fulfilling its security agenda, stressing that the introduction of devices to frontline security team and officers would enhance their productivity and professionalism, while also fast-tracking law enforcement process.

    The cameras, the Governor pointed out, will help the State Government check abuse of power and excesses by security personnel, while also improving the safety and accountability of officers, who will use the devices for evidence sharing and intelligence gathering.

    “I am hopeful that all officers will optimise the cameras that will be assigned to them for the furtherance of justice and improvement of the law enforcement process. Our Government will continue to prioritise the welfare of our law enforcement officers whose pivotal efforts we acknowledge in the entrenchment of a safe city,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Khadijat Shittabey, applauded the Governor for approving the initiative, stressing that the body worn cameras would help the ministry in the administration of justice.

    She said: “The cameras will also help to enhance professionalism on the part of the law enforcement agents, provide digital evidence of events and provide additional means of protection for officers. The cameras will be used to establish guilt or innocence of officers when confronted with allegations of wrongdoing.”

    Falade, after demonstrating the operation of the camera on the Governor, said 7,000 officers will be trained in the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).

    The training, LETI boss disclosed, will be done in 26 batches to reduce crowding of the training centre.

    LETI was established in 2013 through an Executive Order, to set standards for recruitment of law enforcement agents, training and development of the officers.

  • #EndSARS: Again, Lagos Further Relaxes Curfew from 10pm to 6am

    #EndSARS: Again, Lagos Further Relaxes Curfew from 10pm to 6am

    The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has again yielded to peoples’ appeals by announcing a further relaxation of the 24-hour curfew imposed after the breakdown of law and order, following the hijack of the peaceful #EndSARS protests.

    The curfew would now be from 10pm till 6am.

    Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, praised Lagosians for observing the curfew, which is expected to restore normalcy in the Centre of Excellence.

    He urged all Lagosians to go about their businesses in peace, even as they shun “actions that can threaten our unity.”

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    The governor advised purveyors of fake news to stop causing disaffection among Lagosians, who are well known for being peace-loving and friendly.

    Meanwhile, the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olajide Oduyoye, has reaffirmed the commitment of its personnel to traffic control across the state, saying the temporary withdrawal of officers resulted from the arson, killings and violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests.

    Oduyoye revealed that 12 LASTMA zonal offices were destroyed during the mayhem, while officers were attacked at various locations and, therefore, the agency’s operational efficiency and logistics were disrupted.

    He stated that despite the temporary setback, LASTMA has taken stock, re-strategised and its officers have resumed their duties at intersections and junctions across the metropolis.

    While assuring members of the public of the agency’s commitment to ensuring free traffic flow on all roads in Lagos State, Oduyoye thanked LASTMA officials for their cooperation, dedication and efforts on effective traffic management across the metropolis.

    Speaking on a recent story being circulated on social media, Oduyoye debunked the report which alleged that Sanwo-Olu has directed the officers of the agency not to arrest any motorist who contravenes Lagos State Traffic Law.

    The general manager pointed out that the false news story had made the rounds on the social media on previous occasions, adding that the company that generated the initial fake report had apologised, retracted and pulled down the news from its website earlier in the year.

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    According to him, “The primary duties of the agency is traffic control and the arrest of recalcitrant drivers as stated in the law that established the agency. The law was later reviewed by Lagos State House of Assembly in year 2018, with that of Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service. It is, therefore, logical that the governor, who is the number one law-abiding citizen and law enforcement officer in the state, would not flout the law through such pronouncement.

    “I must implore all law-abiding citizens of Lagos State, especially motorists, to adhere strictly to the traffic law of the state in order not to run afoul of the law which has consequences. We must all have positive attitudes towards obeying the laws of the state which were made to ensure orderliness and fast-paced socio-economic improvement of individuals, corporate entities and generality of the people.”

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Sanwo-Olu Tasks Cabinet Members to Step up Tempo of Governance

    Sanwo-Olu Tasks Cabinet Members to Step up Tempo of Governance

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Monday declared opened the first Lagos State Two-day Ministerial Performance Review Retreat at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, where he said his administration was determined to step up the tempo of governance through innovative and inclusive policies.

    He assured Lagosians that his administration was committed to fulfilling all his promises despite disruption occasioned by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other challenges that were not envisaged.

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    The governor said fulfilling his promises in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S development agenda for ‘Greater Lagos’ would be delivered by his administration, despite reduction in the budget as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, knowing fully that no excuse would be tenable to the residents of the state.

    The T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda is predicated on: Traffic management and transportation; Health and environment; Education and technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century economy; Entertainment and tourism; and Security and governance.

    According to him, “I want to assure you that despite disruption occasioned by COVID-19 and other challenges that we did not envisage, we are still committed as a government to fulfilling the promises we made to people knowing fully that no excuse will be tenable to our citizens.

    “We must be determined to step forward, heighten the tempo of governance and continue to create opportunities through innovative policies that are not only inclusive but provide sustainable solutions for this present administration and lay foundation for future administrations coming behind us.”

    Sanwo-Olu also implored members of the state executive council and other public office holders to be committed to the incumbent administration’s effort to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Lagosians, especially the electorates who elected him to govern the affairs of the state.

    “Let me emphasise that our yardstick for performance assessment will not be based majorly on the amount of money expended or budget but the outcome of our various interventions that we have had; what measures the impact that touched the lives of citizens that we swore to serve.

    “One of the promises we made at the inception of our administration and in line with the principle of continuity was to ensure the completion of projects that were inherited from the last administration. A significant part of our efforts and resources was devoted towards fulfilling this promise and taking government to another level,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, in his address, enumerated the present administration’s achievements in the last one year and four months in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda.

    Hamzat said: “We should understand that our focus should be Lagosians, Lagosians and Lagosians because ultimately, they will define what we do and they will grade us. So, we are like in an examination now and examiners don’t have deep knowledge into the operations of how we actually do things but they only measure it by perception and of course by what they see.

    “And as such, our job is to make sure that we set that perception right and then we give quality things in dimension; that at the end of the day our integrity will be intact and then they can say the party has done very well and this government has done very well.”

    Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Jaji, said the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected governments and institutions globally, bringing in its wake, a new normal, adding that Lagos State, which is not left out, was the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria.

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    She, therefore, commended Lagos State Chief Incident Commander, Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, as well as the entire health sector family in Lagos State for the outstanding management of the pandemic, which was acknowledged statewide, nationally and internationally.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only the health sector, but also the economic sector and how we work. Therefore, our trajectory for implementation of the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda to achieve ‘A Greater Lagos’ is going to change as we operate within the new-normal to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Lagos State.

    “I believe in the capability of the Executive Council members, to prolifically deliver as political heads in our various MDAs and of course with the support of all others present for this retreat. I also believe that when objective feedback is given and taken in good faith, it can only lead to improved performance,” she added.

    In his address, the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, noted the importance of a harmonious and effective working relationship between Permanent Secretaries who are accounting officers of Ministries and the political heads who are members of the state executive council.

    He said: “While the Permanent Secretary has overall responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the ministry as accounting officer and in addition to advising the commissioner on public service processes and procedures, it is critically important that the responsibility of the political head for the implementation of government policies is duly recognised and the right balance and conducive atmosphere for a cordial and productive working relationship is established.”

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    Okunola also disclosed that “the core objective of this two-day retreat is to conduct a forensic review of the present administration’s scorecard along the six pillars of our strategic development plans in the last one year. We are here to provide a honest and unemotional review of how have we fared sector by sector. Have we achieved our set targets in different sectors? If yes, what are the enabling factors that have been instrumental in the successes recorded? If we have failed to achieve set targets, what have been the factors that militated against attainment of set targets?”

    He said the main thrust of the present administration is to make Lagos economy a 21st Century economy.

    “In this regard, the state government has invested heavily in infrastructure renewal and roads rehabilitation across the five divisions of Lagos, not forgetting invitation for expression of interest in the 4th Mainland Bridge,” he stated.

    Idowu Sowunmi