Gov Sanwo-olu Inaugurates State Community Policing ~ INN Nigeria

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday inaugurated community policing in the state.

He said the launch of the State Community Policing Advisory Committee and its operations arm, the State Community Policing Committee was geared towards improving security in the state.

The governor instituted members of the two committees at a ceremony held at the State House in Alausa, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile.

“A major inadequacy of our current policing system has been the inability to tap the knowledge and intelligence that exists at neighbourhood and community level”, said Sanwo-olu.

“Today, we brought together our security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders that will help us succeed” He Added.

“We must take bold steps to ensure the security of lives and property in our state and as part of this mandate, I inaugurated the State Community Policing Advisory Committee and State Community Policing Committee as we implement overdue policing reforms tailored to our reality”.

“With both committees in place, we now have operational guidelines and procedures that will promote and sustain mutual trust, respect and confidence between the people and security agencies thereby making Lagos State safer for our people” Said Gov Sanwo-olu.

The SCPAC is co-chaired by the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and the Chairman of Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

Also, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, David Folawiyo, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, said the nation had reached a point where the police must interface with community members in maintaining social order.

“It is a bottom-up approach that shifts focus on reactive law enforcement to proactive problem solving,” he said.