Lagos State Government has recorded a major boost in its drive to strengthen security across border towns, with the commissioning of a new Police Command by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the weekend.

According to the governor, the Command, located at Ilashe, a riverine community in Amuwo Odofin, will serve as the operational headquarters of the recently created Area “L”, which provides security services to all riverine communities in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The entire structure, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, was built and donated to the police by the State Government. Its construction was fully handled and supervised by the State’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

While inaugurating the edifice, Governor Sanwo-Olu added that the new Command was strategically positioned in Ilashe riverine community to improve security on waterways and strengthen the capacity of the police to efficiently combat criminalities in border towns.

The Governor vowed that his administration would spare no effort in making Lagos safe for investments and living, pledging that more resources would be committed to fortify security operations across the State in line with his Government’s agenda to improve socio-economic wellbeing of Lagos residents through good governance.

“The commissioning of the headquarters for the Area “L” Police Command will further strengthen the capacity of our security network with the synergy of other sister agencies to effectively monitor the activities of miscreants, smugglers, pipeline vandals, kidnappers and sea pirates, who pose a serious threat to the economic wellbeing of our State.

“I am extremely delighted with the level of progress we have achieved in building and sustaining the security infrastructure in Lagos, given the challenges we face in terms of controlling crimes in inner cities and boundary communities. The Command will now fully commence regular operations that will be targeted at ensuring safety and security on our waterways, while also deploying personnel to dislodge criminals from creeks and riverside communities”, he said.

Sanwo-Olu who was joined by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the State’s cabinet, said the creation of additional Police Command was in fulfillment of his administration’s promise to leave no community behind in the quest to turn Lagos to a model ‘Smart City’.

The Governor charged the police leadership to deploy “highly professional and disciplined” personnel for operations in the area, stressing that his administration would not condone any form of intimidation, coercion or molestation of law-abiding residents by security operatives.

Area “L” is the 18th Police Command to be established in Lagos by the Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after granting the State Government’s “Special Status” request, which led to the increase in number of security personnel deployed to the State. All the Commands are spread across the five Administrative Divisions of Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said the State Government would be signing a two-year maintenance agreement with a private firm in order to keep the facility durable and clean.

The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 2, which comprises Lagos and Ogun states, Ahmed Ilyasu, assured Sanwo-Olu of effective policing in the riverine towns, pledging that officers with high sense of professionalism would be deployed to man the Area Command.

The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, appreciated the gesture of the State Government, disclosing that the new Area Command would enhance the capability of the police to dislodge criminals and secure valuable assets located in border towns within Amuwo Odofin.

Odumosu said the Command would now supervise the operations of Divisional Police Stations in riverine communities of Oriade local council, including Ilashe, Ibeshe, Irede, Irewe/Osolu, Igbologun and Takwa Bay. He said the proximity of the new Command to communities in the area would reduce the time lag of the police response to their security needs.

He said: “As police officers, it is our duty to ensure safety of lives and properties in line with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s agenda to reposition the economy of Lagos by making the State the most secure mega city. The establishment of the Area “L” Command and subsequent building of operational base is a milestone for the police and the State Government.

“It is a symbolic manifestation of Mr. Governor’s commitment to secure Lagos by creating comfortable working environment for our personnel to be deployed to carry out their statutory duties in the Command.”

Meanwhile, the new Command has a digitised multipurpose hall, well-furnished hostel accommodation, security tower, administrative block, canteen, common room and purpose-built apartment for Area Commander.