{OPINION} Lagos State does not require security gates to secure it, except estate gates

By GEN. TAJUDEEN OLANREWAJU (RTD)

“I just need to give a word of advice. Lekki gates or any other street blockings including street parties are not necessary and needed. They all combine to carnalise victims into the hands of the criminals.”

Security situations in Nigeria today have become a serious concern for the protection of lives and properties. Nigerians have come under siege and are concerned about losing their money, properties, and are living under fear on a daily basis.

I may not have current data indicating how our lives are lost at the moment, but I guess these are colossal, apart from injuries sustained from brutality, such as armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism; hoodlums, touts and street urchins.

A lot of people attribute these challenges to systemic failure and weak policing in our environmental community and urbanisation, particularly in Lagos State. To some extent, we can easily fall prey to these conclusions without a recourse to the efforts of state government to check the cost benefits and cost efficiencies of efforts.

There is another school of thought, though, that feels poor environmental planning and urban sprawl have edged into our good living standards. Citizens keep on complaining, stomaching the pains, keep on blaming no one and, yet, solutions to these plights are not in sight because they fail to demand for their rights.

In my own personal view, the state government policies to discuss the matter of re-installing street gates in Lekki Phase 1 in order to reassure the citizens of their security may not necessarily be the true answer to this question of internal security.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunboh Wahab, had been seen lately working to bring some sense and sanity to his Ministry. It is much to his credit that, given support by the people working holistically with the right frame of mind and with professionals but not necessarily politicians, Mr. Wahab could achieve a huge impact on our ancestral environments.

I just need to give a word of advice. Lekki gates or any other street blockings including street parties are not necessary and needed. They all combine to carnalise victims into the hands of the criminals. Besides this, not all the tenants who live behind these gated street housing areas pay their dues. A demand to pay dues always resorts to raising tempers amongst themselves. They end up saying, “take me to court”, because there are no laws guarding them.

Sometimes some pregnant women have delivered at the gates because no keys to get out. Many residents got stocked at the gates and could not get to their homes after the gates closed at the closing hours. Many issues are raised and tempers rise resorting in tribal or ethnic insults among residents.

Lagos State needs an efficient control room systems decentralised along established 20 Local Governments Areas (LGAs) and manned by the specialists trained by police, Nigeria Army and other security agencies. This is not a job for the boys.

Dubai has a good running system and is achieving excellent results. The military had a system like this before, with good communication systems. I still believe it is still there.

The government should design a control zone for one Local Government in each of the divisions (IBILE) for a start because of cost and there could be a test run, but a special one be installed at Sangotedo area along the Lekki-Epe route.

Lagos State Security Trust Fund was established for the purpose of providing security, purchase of equipment, training, purchase of vehicles for patrolling and meeting essential security requirements in Lagos State. It was established by IGP Musliu Smith (Rtd), DIG Wahidi Kazeem (Rtd) and few other senior police officers for the sole aim of securing the residents. Not so much has been heard about it in the last few years, until Femi Otedola made his N1 billion donation.

It is my suggestion that, from now on, the donors should buy their equipment and other materials necessary through the funds they are providing to the state, and work in tandem with the police, help to hold seminars, promoting good neighbourliness and ensuring monitors to check violators.

And part of the functions of the RRS, Police, Nigeria Army and other Security agencies is to improve upon their standing and mobile patrols and assign them to LGAs. If they can cover 60% of the state, by this arrangement, the crime rate will fall. Because the state government, the police and other security and traffick agencies are treating these transport union members with kid gloffs and so they get away with their misdemeanours, whereas, they constitute to the traffick crisis across the state without being responsible to anyone. And they have nobody to be reported to except their political leaders.

The state can get rid of the ‘Danfos’ in 6 months, if they are serious. The drivers lack road etiquette and respect no one. The crime rate committed by the NURTW members is rather high, and they run away from justice unaccountable to citizens right. I strongly believe that the deployment of technology shows the way forward; although we are in a hurry, we can reach our goal gradually, bearing in mind the costs. The state government must find the money and secure the citizens’ lives and properties. The bulk stops on the governor’s table.

As a stakeholder, I feel concerned about who becomes the helmsman in 2027. I will work hard with other stakeholders in the state to elect an IBILE INDIGENE, the next executive governor of lagos state. The elected governor will apply the state resources for the benefits of the citizens.

*Maj-Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd) is Former Minister of Communications, Member of Provisional Ruling Council, General Officer Commanding, 3 Armoured Division Nigeria Army and Deputy Defence Adviser in Moscow.