The Council Chairmen under the umbrella of All Local Governments Association, (ALGON) in Osun State, on Tuesday, unveiled and handed over the security operational vehicles to all the security agencies in the state.
The Council Chairmen reaffirmed commitment to continuously leveraging autonomy to deliver impactful governance at the grassroots, saying “we will not relent in investing in initiatives that promote security, peace and sustainable development.
This is just as the security operatives extolled the initiative, saying Osun Council Chairmen have solved the major problem confronting the security services in the state.
Benefitting security agencies are: Nigeria Police Force Osun State Command represented by CP Ibrahim Gotan; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC represented by Commandant Sotiyo Igbalawole; Directorate of State Services, DSS, represented by State Deputy Director, John Sebolato; Federal Roads Safety Corps, FRSC, represented by State Commander, Sunday Adebayo; Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, represented by State Comptroller M.A Akinyemi; National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, represented by State Commander Olayinka Joe Fadile; Federal Fire Service, represented by State Comptroller Isaac Femi Akinjobi; Nigeria Correctional Service, represented by Assistant Commander, S.O Johnson among others.
Handing over the security operational vehicles to the security agencies, Osun ALGON Chairman and Ifedayo Council boss, Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, said the initiative is a direct product of the growing autonomy of local government aimed at enhancing the security apparatus in the state.
According to him, the distribution of security operational vehicles will enhance mobility, improve rapid responses, and enable security agencies to be more proactive on security issues.
“This event is not just about the handing over of the vehicles to different security agencies in the state alone, but it is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the safety, security and well-being of our people. Security remains the bedrock of any meaningful development. Without peace and stability, no society can thrive, and no government can achieve its developmental goals.
“May I humbly inform you that we have procured 90 units of these new security patrol vehicles and other security equipment, which will be handed over to our security agencies in batches before the end of this month.
“As ALGON Chairman in Osun State, I am proud to affirm that local governments remain the closest tiers of government to the people. We understand the peculiar security challenges within our communities, and we are determined to support all necessary efforts to address them effectively.
“I appreciate the police and other security agencies in the state for their quick response in nipping kidnapping in Ifedayo Local Government, especially in Ora-Igbomina.
“It is important to stress that the success of this initiative is a direct product of the growing autonomy of local government.
Autonomy enables us to act without undue delays, to design solutions that are tailored to our local realities, and to take responsibility for the security and welfare of our communities.
“With increased autonomy, we are now better positioned to initiate and execute people-oriented programmes such as this distribution of security patrol vehicles.
This is indeed a clear testament to what can be achieved when governance is brought closer to the grassroots and when local authorities are trusted with resources and responsibility to act.
“The provision of these patrol vehicles is therefore not only a security intervention but also a practical demonstration of the effectiveness of local government autonomy in Nigeria. These vehicles will enhance mobility, improve response time, and enable our security agencies to be more proactive on security issues”, ALGON stated.
He lauded the dedication and sacrifice of the security personnel, saying “your courage, resilience and commitment to duty continue to inspire confidence among the citizens as security remains a collective responsibility requiring us all to join hands to secure our environment.
“I reaffirm our commitment as local government leaders to continue leveraging our autonomy to deliver impactful governance at the grassroots. We will not relent in investing in initiatives that promote security, peace and sustainable development. Together, we can build a safer, stronger and more prosperous Osun State.
“I call on all our noble career officers at the local government to shun political partisanship and cooperate with our government at the local level. We call on them to forward all their payment details, including salaries, pensions and entitlements for immediate payment”, he stated.
In his remarks, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, described the initiative as a significant milestone in strengthening the security architecture put in place by the command.
He commended the council Chairmen for their noble move, saying, “These vehicles will enhance operational efficiency and deepen the confidence of the citizens.
“This occasion marks yet another significant milestone in your efforts to strengthen the security architecture put in place by the command by providing these vehicles, which will enhance operational efficiency and deepen the confidence of the citizens.
“This laudable gesture is a clear demonstration of your unwavering commitment to the safety, security and well-being of the good people of the state. It takes visionary leadership to recognise the critical role that logistics and mobility play in modern policing, and you have risen to the occasion.
The donation of these operational vehicles will significantly enhance our capacity to dominate public spaces, engage in proactive surveillance, respond to distress calls, ease patrols, visibility policing, and ultimately improve our overall operational efficiency for the safety of the state.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State command and other security agencies present here, I sincerely thank ALGON for this thoughtful and impactful intervention. Be assured that these vehicles will be judiciously and professionally used in the best interest of public safety.
“I also use this opportunity to call on other organisations, stakeholders and well-meaning individuals to emulate this noble initiative. Together, we can build a safer society for all”, he added.
In their separate remarks, some of the heads of security in the state applauded the council Chairmen for deeming it worthwhile to boost the operations of the security outfits.
They said: “This is what we have been clamouring for. This will enhance our operation to perform optimally. What is common to all of us here, particularly the security operatives, is to secure and protect lives and property, and with these vehicles, our problem on mobility is solved.”
