PRESS RELEASE

• Nigeria needs to invest N3.4trillion annually to bridge the policing gap – Minister

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, reiterated his administration’s commitment to security, saying the State Government has always been in support of the desire to embrace community policing as a strategy to enhance the safety of lives and property.

He spoke during the Renewed Hope Police Agenda Citizens Townhall Engagement on Strengthening Policing in Nigeria, themed: “Community Policing: Building a Safer Nigeria Together,” held at Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday.

Speaking during the town hall engagement organised by the Ministry of Police Affairs, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State has over the years supported the Nigeria Police in ensuring effective community policing.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was part of the panelists, also called for modernisation of the security architecture and operations with the deployment of state-of-the-art technology for improved efficiency, noting that the security personnel need smartphones to enhance information dissemination and intelligence.

He said: “For us in Lagos State, and as should be expected of the economic, commercial and industrial nerve centre of Nigeria, the safety of lives and property has always been a top priority. It is a strong factor in our administration’s commitment to create and sustain a conducive environment that is attractive for local and foreign investment.

“To achieve this objective, we have initiated a number of strategies aimed at strengthening the capacity and the will of the Lagos State Police Command and other security agencies in the State to enhance their effectiveness in tackling security challenges in all the nooks and crannies of the State.

“We have been able to achieve this largely through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), a special purpose vehicle created in 2006 to finance security in the State. Through this platform to which individuals and corporate organisations have continued to contribute both financially and materially, we have been able to support the Police and other sister security agencies with thousands of vehicles and equipment that have gone a long way to strengthen the security architecture in the State.”

He stressed further that: “Lagos State Government has always been in support of the desire to embrace community policing as a strategy to enhance the safety of lives and property. The establishment of Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps established in 2016 was in pursuance of the government’s effort to promote community policing in Lagos State.

“There is no gainsaying that with less than 20,000 personnel strength, Lagos State, with a population of over 22 million is grossly under-policed by international standards. One of the ways we can bridge this gap is to encourage the involvement of the people through community policing. In addition, we must also modernise our security architecture and operations with the deployment of state-of-the-art technology for improved efficiency.

“As I speak, we are currently installing smart cameras across the city. These cameras are connected to a Command and Control centre where several points in the city are monitored in real-time. The command and control centre has direct lines to the Police emergency first responders, fire and rescue service among others.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also commended the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim and the top echelon of the Nigeria Police for organising the Citizens Town Hall Engagement on Strengthening Policing in Nigeria.

“You can continue to count on the support, partnership and collaboration of the Lagos State government for the successful implementation of this important agenda,” the Governor assured.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hon. Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said the first Renewed Hope Police Agenda Citizens Townhall Meeting held in Lagos is aimed at providing a platform for direct engagement among all stakeholders in the security ecosystem.

Suleiman-Ibrahim said the engagement which was also aimed at fostering collaboration between the Police and the public, as well as strengthening community policing, promoting development and research, increasing trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police, amongst others would be extended to other states.

The Minister who disclosed that Nigeria needs to invest a minimum of N3.4trillion annually over the next five years to bridge the policing gap, commended Lagos State for setting the space for other states on effective and efficient security, particularly the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

She said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration had embarked on various police reforms, stating that “We want a Nigeria Police that is recognised for professionalism, transparency, accountable practices. A force that is inclusive, community-based, technology-driven and intelligently led with high level of efficiency in the discharge of its mandate of protecting lives and properties.”

Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said the choice to host the first Renewed Hope Agenda Citizens Townhall Engagement in Lagos was based on the social, political and economic importance, hence the need to feel the purse of Lagosians on security in diverse ways.

Speaking during the event, some of the stakeholders commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s giant strides in security and governance, particularly in community policing, describing him as a Champion of Community Policing.

They said the engagement on community policing was a step that would lead to a safer Nigeria, encourage increased collaboration and meaningful dialogue that will enhance the safety and security of lives and property.

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

11 DECEMBER 2023

Julius Berger wins NECA Employers’ Excellence Award

. Tops Construction and Construction Services sector

Nigeria’s foremost engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc Wednesday night won the largest employers‘ Award otherwise known as the prestigious Nigeria Employers‘ Consultative Association, NECA’s Construction and Construction Services sectoral Award beating every other contender in the industry.

The development, the third in the yearly series, elicited a resounding applause from the audience inside the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos venue of the event hailing the company as deserving of the Award.

According to the President of NECA, Taiwo Adeniyi in his speech, the Award is dedicated to rsilience and doggedness of Nigerian businesses, like Julius Berger who against all odds still forges ahead impactfully.

The Director General of NECA, Adewale Smart Oyerinde’s comment at the event was in tandem with that of the President. He said, the winners, and even the others are still standing doggedly doing their thing inspite of the frustrating business environment, adding, this event is occasion for us to breathe and continue to celebrate.

In announcing Julius Berger as the Winner in the sector, , NECA said “the company satisfied all criteria it employed to determine winners and were pleased beyond reasonable doubts that Julius Berger met the criteria in leadership and governance, innovation, productivity and corporate performance, effective human resources management and industrial relations practice as well as responsible business conduct. Inclusiveness and diversity, technological optimization and occupational health and safety are also some criteria employed,“ NECA concluded.

The Association expressed the hope that with the Awards, winners like Julius Berger would do more towards increasing their chances for more laurels in the future.

The President of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, CIPM; Olusegun Mojeed who presented the Award to Julius Berger added his voice to the accolades received by the ompany at the historic event. He said, “here are the winners by all standards and against all odds in line with theme of tonight’s occasion. Congratulations Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.“

For Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, represented by Chison Albert at the event, “…the Award says we are doing well and we are inpired to explore ways of doing more.“

Winners in other categories include MTN, Nigeria Bottling Company, Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, Nestle and Dangote Cement among others.

The annual Employer’s Excellence Awards is an initiative of NECA geared towards promoting and encouraging best practices in corporate performance, people management and industrial relations practices in the country. NECA itself is a globally respected Business Membership Organisation registered in 1990 with its membership cutting across enterprises operating in all sectors of the economy, professional bodies and sectoral Employers‘ Association making NECA as the only representative employers‘ organisation representing the interest of Nigerian employers in the International Labour Organisation and related groups.

The Vice President, Shettima as well as invited state governors sent representatives while the ILO and several professional bodies sent goodwill messages.

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc team inlcuded Performance Management Manager, Chigozie Okonkwo, Talent Management Officer, Chiamaka Emeh,  Human Resource Manager, Region West, Chisom Albert and Assistant senior Liaison Officer, Emmanuel Isibor.