IKEJA-Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has donated 10 Armoured Personnel Cars (APC), 1,000 AK 47 rifles and 1000 bullet proof vests to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
Reports say that Mr. Mike Okiro, the Inspector General of Police, received the materials, which included two million rounds of live ammunition in Ikeja.
The governor, who did not disclose the cost, said the equipment was to strengthen the RRS arm of the Nigeria Police Command in its quest to combat crime.
He said the money used to purchase the equipment was from the state Security Trust Fund.
Fashola used the occasion to warn commercial motorbike operators popularly called “okada riders” against carrying more than one passenger at a time.
He said “anybody found carrying more than one passenger will be prosecuted,” noting that the warning was to curtail criminal activities.
Fashola said this warning became necessary in view of the seriousness of his administration to protect lives and property.
Fashola said his administration’s policy included the provision of jobs for the youths to curb crime.
“It is a careful planning to provide opportunities for the jobless persons who might be tempted to commit crime.
That is why everywhere you go, you can see we are empowering young boys and girls, men and women to set up businesses of their own.
“We are also giving them access to vocational centres and micro credit schemes which make them self-reliant,” the governor said.
He said 4,028 youths had received grants totalling N200 million to establish businesses of their own, following their graduation from the state’s skills acquisition centres last Friday.
The I-G thanked the state government for handing over the equipment to the police command.
“Through it, the state government in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Command have officially sent a strong warning signal to criminals and other miscreants,” he said.
Okiro said Fashola had re-affirmed the vision of transforming the state to a mega city, assuring him that the police would make judicious use of the equipment.
The event was also attended by Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 and Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, the Commissioner of Police in the state.
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