Speeches

2008 Chief Security & Safety Officers Forum Organised By The Institute Of Industrial Security And Safety Of Nigeria (IISSN)

Dec 16, 2008 - It is my pleasure to join you at the 2008 edition of the Chief Security and Safety Officers Forum organized by the Institute of Industrial Security and Safety of Nigeria (IISSN), especially in the “ember” months period to review the security and safety situation across the nation and to proffer a blueprint for effective security and safety management in the coming year.

The adopted theme for this forum is illustrative of our collective desires “Meeting the Challenges and Imperatives of Corporate Security and Safety in Lagos Mega City and Environs through Cooperative Security Framework and Synergy”.

The challenges of security and safety management in a mega city are real and we have to implement proactive strategies to ensure the safety of lives and property, in order, to guarantee socioeconomic development. The Constitution has placed the responsibility for the protection of lives and property on government, but the people also have a responsibility to cooperate with the government, as community police, to ensure the safety of lives and property.

Our administration in Lagos State places a high premium on security to the lives and property of every resident in the State, which led to the establishment of the Security Trust Fund that has received tremendous support from the corporate organizations operating in the State. I am happy to note the renewed efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and other safety and security organizations, including the Lagos State Fire & Safety Services in responding to distress calls and managing disasters which are inevitable in an emerging mega city.

Just recently, our government moved a step further by providing 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to assist the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) manage the security situation, especially in the “ember” months when crime and armed robbery incidents are expected to increase. Our administration also provided 5 speed boats to augment the efforts of the Marine Department of the Nigeria Police Force to monitor and secure our local waterways from the activities of pirates and smugglers and those who may want to use the waterways to unleash terror on our people.

We are all aware that the last quarter of the year is always characterized by dry, harmattan weather and fire incidents can easily occur. In order to forestall damage arising from fire incidents, 10 new fire fighting vehicles and other appliances were procured for the Lagos State Fire & Safety Services to enhance its effectiveness in service delivery wherever and whenever it is required within the State.

I will use this opportunity to commend the efforts of the President, Executive Council and Members of the Institute of Industrial Security and Safety of Nigeria (IISSN) in working harmoniously with the Lagos State Government in the enlightenment and sensitization of the members of the public on security and safety in the public and private sectors. I urge all participants at this forum to use this opportunity to analyse criminal patterns, especially bank robberies, in the emerging mega city of Lagos State and proffer a blueprint for effective security management of the situation.

I am confident that with the calibre of experienced security professionals, in this gathering, this forum will come up with time-tested suggestions to further boost our security management efforts. We will always count on your support as critical stakeholders in our combined efforts to build a mega city that is safe and secure.

I shall be looking forward to read the communiqué that will emanate from the proceedings of this forum and I congratulate the President, Executive Council and Members for the successful hosting of the 2008 Chief Security & Safety Officers Forum in Lagos State and I wish you all a merry Christmas and happy new year as we enter a crime free Year 2009.

Thank you for your attention and God bless.

Eko O Ni Baje O!

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Executive Governor,
Lagos State