TheCapital

When few days ago the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun sounded loud warning that the Gateway State would not be a safe haven for men of the underworld and unscrupulous elements, he meant every word of the statement. The Governor took a bold step on Saturday when he inaugurated the committee to oversee the amended Ogun State Security Trust Fund in his march towards making Ogun a safe and secure habitat for residents and businesses.

Unveiling the membership of the committee, Governor Abiodun said that the amended Ogun State Security Trust Fund was an indication of his administration commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property of the good people of Ogun State.

“It is a demonstration of our government’s unreserved commitment towards ensuring that the people have a good life and pursue their legitimate business in a secured environment.”

The governor said the amended Ogun State Security Trust Fund law is a private sector-driven program that would support the state government in addressing various security challenges facing the state.

According to him, “The aim of the trust fund is to provide necessary financial and human resources required for the prevention of crime and the maintenance of law and order, through an alliance with corporate organisations.

“The setting up of the committee was necessitated by the need for the transparent management of all resources that are eventually available for the implementation of the reinvigorated trust fund,” he explained.

Governor Abiodun has also said Ogun State would commence the demolition of houses identified to be residences of kidnappers and also revoke the certificates of occupancy of such buildings.

He highlighted that he has fulfilled yet another promise to provide good governance to the people. He said with the launching of the reinvigorated security trust fund, the full architecture for internal safety of lives and property has been fully emplaced.

Chaired by a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Bolaji Balogun, the committee, as announced by Governor Abiodun, has CEO of RTC Advisory Services, Opeyemi Agbaje as its Executive Secretary. Abiodun also named as members of the committee Rtd Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Olushola Subair; Chief Financial Officer, Access Bank, Seyi Kumapayi; Group Executive, Commercial Banking, First Bank, Seyi Oyefeso; and Executive Director, Wema Bank, Wole Akinleye.

In his response and in line with set terms, Mr Balogun assured the good people of Ogun State of a transparent, goal-driven approach and promised not to fail in their service to our dear State.

In the same vein, the Ogun State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the amendment of the state Security Trust Fund Bill sent by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The bill passed second reading on Thursday during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo. The lawmakers unanimously agreed that the bill when passed by the Assembly and signed into law by Abiodun, would help tackle insecurity.

They also said the enforcement of the law would allow for effective security management, as more funds would be available for the procurement of modern security apparatus to equip security agencies in the state for effective service delivery.