The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, on Tuesday, handed-over six refurbished gunboats to the Lagos police command as part of measures to further beef up security around the coastal areas of Nigeria’s economic hub. Ringim, who arrived at the Marine Police Headquarters on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in the company of Governor Babatunde Fashola for the event, said the release of the gunboats was in recognition of the special place of Lagos, as the nation’s commercial centre and its huge population who must protected and secured.
He also mentioned the need to secure the various federal and private properties in the city, citing in particular the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) facilities along the coastal line at Atlas Cove, Ibafon, Badagry, Epe, Apapa, Ijora Coal, Marina and nautical miles offshore.
According to Ringim, “consequent upon the tour of NNPC facilities and tank farms in January 2011, it has become imperative to add additional six back-up boats for effective patrol of the facilities.
And with the commissioning of these six gunboats, it is my expectation that the police in Lagos will be able to provide adequate security around all federal government installations, vital public and private assets along the riverine areas of Epe through Marina to Badagry,” the IGP said.
While soliciting the continued cooperation of the Lagos State government, the police boss, however, acknowledged Governor Fashola’s massive support to the Lagos police command since 2007. He noted that this support has put the command ahead of other states.
In his remarked, Fashola commended the IGP for acceding to the demand of the Lagos command for additional gunboats. Pledging his continued cooperation with the Federal Government and the police, Fashola disclosed that plans were afoot by the state through the Lagos Security Trust Fund to purchase additional gunboats to the police.
He reiterated the determination his administration to fight crime headlong, warning that criminals bent on making lives unbearable for the residents were in for a fight with the government.
Earlier, the commissioner of police, Lagos, Yakubu Alkali, said the additional gunboats became necessary in order tame hoodlums who have chosen to attack from the water having “realized the danger involved in attacking on land”.
“In the face of this daunting challenge, it became imperative to support the marine police so that it could save Lagosians, particularly Ikoyi, Victoria and Lekki Peninsula residents, the harrowing experience of devastating incidents of crimes,” Alkali said.
He also mentioned the need to secure the various federal and private properties in the city, citing in particular the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) facilities along the coastal line at Atlas Cove, Ibafon, Badagry, Epe, Apapa, Ijora Coal, Marina and nautical miles offshore.
According to Ringim, “consequent upon the tour of NNPC facilities and tank farms in January 2011, it has become imperative to add additional six back-up boats for effective patrol of the facilities.
And with the commissioning of these six gunboats, it is my expectation that the police in Lagos will be able to provide adequate security around all federal government installations, vital public and private assets along the riverine areas of Epe through Marina to Badagry,” the IGP said.
While soliciting the continued cooperation of the Lagos State government, the police boss, however, acknowledged Governor Fashola’s massive support to the Lagos police command since 2007. He noted that this support has put the command ahead of other states.
In his remarked, Fashola commended the IGP for acceding to the demand of the Lagos command for additional gunboats. Pledging his continued cooperation with the Federal Government and the police, Fashola disclosed that plans were afoot by the state through the Lagos Security Trust Fund to purchase additional gunboats to the police.
He reiterated the determination his administration to fight crime headlong, warning that criminals bent on making lives unbearable for the residents were in for a fight with the government.
Earlier, the commissioner of police, Lagos, Yakubu Alkali, said the additional gunboats became necessary in order tame hoodlums who have chosen to attack from the water having “realized the danger involved in attacking on land”.
“In the face of this daunting challenge, it became imperative to support the marine police so that it could save Lagosians, particularly Ikoyi, Victoria and Lekki Peninsula residents, the harrowing experience of devastating incidents of crimes,” Alkali said.
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