Fashola accuses FG of underfunding security in Lagos

The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has accused the Federal Government of underfunding security agencies in the state.

The governor said although security was the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government in the constitution, it (Federal Government) had failed to provide adequate equipment for security operatives, especially policemen, to function well.

Fashola, who spoke on Tuesday at a Town Hall Meeting on security in Victoria Island, added that the establishment of the state’s Security Trust Fund had, however, helped law enforcement agencies to keep the state safe.

He said, “Since the inception of Lagos State Trust Fund in 2007, the Federal Government has not provided up to 30 vehicles for policemen in the state.

“While we acknowledge the receipt of 11 patrol boats, it bears stating that  the Federal Government did not seem to think the police require other equipment like APCs, walkie-talkies, communication masts and motorbikes even though security is constitutionally its exclusive preserve.”

The governor said his administration had funded security in the state with N8.7bn, adding that the 85 per cent of assets used by security agencies were provided by the LSTF.

Fashola said, “The challenge of equipping and resourcing our security agencies in the face of the insufficient support from the Federal Government has continued till this day.”

The Executive Secretary, LSTF, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, who assured government’s continued support for security agencies, said LSTF spent more on security in 2012 with N476m compared to N249.3m in 2011.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Umaru Manko, in his security report, said the number of armed robbery incidents in the state increased to 123 between November 2011 and October 2012 compared with 61 recorded between November 2010 and October 2011.

He added that 32 policemen were killed by armed robbers during the same period in 2012 compared with 19 killed in 2011.

Manko’s report also indicated that policemen also killed 140 armed robbers compared with 164 killed between November 2010 and October 2011. Five hundred and sixty nine other armed robbers were arrested in 2012 as against the 522 arrested in2011.

The report stated that 1,263 vehicles were stolen in Lagos in 11 months, which is less than the ones stolen in the previous year, which stood at 1,448. It added that 954 vehicles were recovered in 2012 against 1, 187 recovered in 2011.

Manko added that 270 people were murdered in the last 11 months against 319 people murdered the previous year.

Manko said the command had risen up to the challenges of security by “evolving new strategies,” adding that the police in the state would, however require additional manpower.

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