• It is a better time for Lagosians
By SUNDAY ODIBASHI
THE Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Fatai Owoseni, has assured residents of the state that they have no need to panic over the directive by the Lagos State Government that street gates should be open throughout the day into midnight. The Police declared that officers of the Command will be on duty 24 hours to protect lives and property and ensure that men of the underworld do not operate in any part of the state.
Speaking to National Daily, through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police, (SP) Dolapo Opeyemi Badmus, he was of the view that the advantages of keeping street gates open within the stipulated period are much more than the disadvantages. He explained that when gates are locked, Police rescue operations are obstructed; explaining that in times of distress call, the Police cannot penetrate the streets for rescue operations. According to him, “armed robbers take charge of the gates, prohibit entrance to the streets and Police cannot have access into the street to rescue victims of attack.”
“We assure the public that Police patrol will be more intensified not to allow any vacuum for the men of the underworld to operate. Police patrol will be extended to the nooks and cronies of the state,” Badmus declared.
The PPRO said that the Police are rolling out more emergency response numbers, adding that, the CP is in partnership with Intel to provide land lines telephone services. The telephone callers will receive instant responses from the Police under the new arrangement, he said. According to the PPRO, “The time when you will call a DPO and they will tell you he has traveled to Kano is over. The CP has placed all DPOs on alert.”
He disclosed that the Police have a booklet made available to the public which provides telephone numbers and other information platforms for contact or interaction with the Police. Badmus further said that even on the social media platform, people can interact with the Police on Android and other devices. “There is SMART Police application. Click on the SMART Police application and you can report to the Police anywhere in the world.
There is opportunity to be anonymous reporter; you are adequately protected to made report about a crime or crime scene. Police also have RED ALERT device. Just send signal you are in distress, indicating your location and policemen will be redeployed to that area immediately,” he revealed. He declared that, “It is a better time for Lagosians.”
Lagos State Government had, last week, directed immediate re-opening of all street gates and barricades in the nook and cranny of the state between 5.00am and 12 mid-night daily. The State Government also warned that defaulting streets would have their gates pulled down within seven days.
The government ordered that all street gates and barricades are now only permitted to be locked between 12 mid-night and 5.00am, insisting that locked gates must be manned by security guards within the period under lock and key in case of emergencies.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Development and Chairman of Community Affairs Advisory Council, Mr. Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri, had explained that the decision of the State Government followed series of complaints from residents on the disturbing trend of street gates and barricades. He said there have been situations whereby fire fighters and police were prevented from getting to emergency scenes on time due to street gates and barricades as well as instances where rushing patients with emergency situations to hospital were frustrated.
Quadri said that as a responsive and responsible government, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed that the restriction on closure of street gates and barricades be strictly adhered to henceforth.