Press Releases

Security, Most Critical Foundation In Nation Building - Fashola

Mar 2, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday stressed the importance of security in nation building, describing it as a critical foundation on which all policies of any government are rooted.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, while receiving the new Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ola Said Ibrahim, also enjoined the Nigerian Navy to support the State Government in its effort to develop water transportation in the State by providing both security and assistance in times of emergencies.

“Security is the most critical foundation in nation building. The responsibility of every government is about people. But you cannot begin to talk about people if you cannot keep them alive”, the Governor said, pointing out that the primary responsibility that every government bears is the protection of lives and property.

The Lagos State Government, the Governor said, has committed itself to developing water transportation as an alternative to road transportation in the State by providing jetties while committing the Private Sector to providing the ferries, adding, “Dredging is going on as I speak now to provide navigational depth. We need all the support we can get from you in our waterways. The much you can do for us is to be our police on the waterways, not only in terms of the equipment but also in terms of presence and to bring all your experience to ensure that if and when emergencies do occur, we can look to you as we will also look to our Lagos State Emergency Service as the first response agencies”.

Governor Fashola, who acknowledged that there is nothing basically wrong with Nigeria, noted that poverty and other problems that assail Nigeria as a nation are problems of humanity and are therefore universal; pointing out that what makes the difference is how each generation responds to the problems in any specific location across the world.

“Before I was born, poverty was an issue in Nigeria, so it is not new. It will be an issue as long as humanity exists because no part of the world has gone beyond the poverty line. But it is how each generation responds to the issue that makes the difference in any specific location across the world”, the Governor said, adding that if this generation works together, it can deliver on its promises.

According to Governor Fashola, “I believe the opportunity is here, the education is in this generation. The opportunity to prove itself is now. It is now for us to keep our appointment with destiny”,

Praising the Nigerian Navy for “having stood up to play its own role in our security efforts in Lagos”, Governor Fashola implored the Chief of Naval Staff to give every logistic and personal support to the Western Naval Command in order to adequately discharge the critical role in securing Lagos, which he described as “the economic engine of this country”.

The Governor described the new Flag Officer as a highly decorated man whose decorations “must have been deserving”, adding, that the combination of legal mind and training in an organization with a culture of discipline, poise and enterprise as the Navy has made the Officer “one of the foremost experts in Navigation and direction in the Nigerian Navy”.

Earlier, in his remarks, Rear Admiral Ibrahim, who led an array of Naval Officers, praised Governor Fashola for his many developmental achievements and the positive way he has touched the lives of the people of Lagos in the last one and a half years.

“We identify with your success. We can see it, we can touch it”, the Flag Officer said, adding that though the Governor preceded the American President Barack Obama, the same spirit drives the two men, the spirit of “We Can Do It”.

Citing an example with the traffic situation in Lagos, Rear Admiral Ibrahim who said he grew up in Lagos, recalled the time when movement around the city was a herculean task as a result of traffic congestion but expressed joy that today the situation has improved tremendously.

“Today there is no need for siren”, the Flag Officer said, adding, “You are like a peacock. May your star never diminish. God will bless your sacrifices. We believe you are sacrificing a lot to give this service”.

He said the purpose of the visit was to pledge the support of his Command and to commend the Governor for his many successes, adding that the Chief of Navel Staff had personally directed him to convey to the Governor his message of goodwill for the efforts and successes the Governor has registered in the State.

“For very good reasons, Lagos is the home to be and as a Flag Officer of the Western Naval Command, I consider myself privileged to be here”, Rear Admiral Ibrahim said, adding, “We are here to help in Lagos State. Security is it. Without security, there will be no development”.

Acknowledging that Governor Fashola has taken on a big challenge in his quest to move Lagos forward, the Flag Officer declared, “What we say is, if it can happen in Lagos, it can happen in the whole country”, adding, “We are here to render security. We are here not to constitute more of your problems but to solve it”.

Also in present at the occasion are the Commander of NNS Beecroft, and Member of Lagos State Security Council, the Commander Technical Office of the Command, among other officers as well as some members of the State Executive Council.