Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that his administration is working with the office of the National Security Adviser to procure suitable surveillance equipment that will enable a prompt response to any security threat in any part of the state.
Governor Abiodun stated this when he hosted the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, and the new Brigade Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brigadier General Godwin Nwaba, as well as other service chiefs who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He said: “We are working towards identifying suitable surveillance technology that will allow us to have visibility and a view of different areas of our state so that when there is an emergency, we can adequately respond.
“The office of the NSA has been working with us in that direction. We’ve been trying to identify suitable technology so we can deploy it. Very soon, I am sure we are going to decide on that, and it will be procured and deployed to complement your activities.”
The governor stated that although the state is one of the most peaceful in the country, it is imperative for the security agencies to be on top of their game, as there are constant threats that test the will of the state government.
“There is a lot that needs to be done, and we are not going to rest on our oars. Yes, we’ve been referred to as one of the safest, if not the safest, states in Nigeria. However, there is always a continuous test of our will, and we will continue to resist that with maximum reaction. We will not sit by and allow anyone to come here and cause a breach of security in our state,” the governor added.
Abiodun noted the strategic location of the state with an international border and the daily influx of people due to its status as the industrial, educational, religious, and tourism hub of the nation, adding that these factors have placed a heavy burden on the security architecture of the state.
Prince Abiodun said: “When Ogun is peaceful, and when Ogun is prosperous, the entire country is peaceful and prosperous because we are not just the industrial capital of Nigeria; we are also the religious capital, which draws a lot of people to our state.”
The governor attributed the peaceful atmosphere in the state to the inter-agency cooperation among security agencies in the discharge of their duties and appreciated them for collaborating with the state government to ensure the successful hosting of the recently concluded National Sports Festival.
“That Sports Festival was more than just a sports event; it gave us an opportunity to showcase who we really are. A lot of investors are coming into the state to set up their businesses because of that festival. Many conferences are now being brought to our state. I want to thank you for supporting us in that regard,” he said.
He assured that the state would look into how it could solve some of the challenges facing security agencies in the state with a view to addressing them within the limits of state resources.
Speaking earlier, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, noted the unique position of the state as the industrial hub of the nation and disclosed that the Ogun and Lagos State Police Commands are synergizing to nip crimes in the bud, particularly in the border areas.
The Brigade Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Godwin Nwaba, stated that his command has intensified patrols in some hotspots in the state, assuring that the men and officers under him would work towards ensuring peace in the state.
Other security chiefs from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Correctional Services, Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Federal Fire Service appreciated the state government for past support and called for more assistance, especially in the area of mobility, pledging to work harder for a peaceful state.
