The two bullet-proof BMW cars allegedly bought illegally by Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah would buy about 51 security vans for law enforcement agents, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State, has said.
Speaking on Thursday in the Victoria Island area of the state during the 7th annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, with the theme, Sustaining Local Responding To Rising National Security Challenges, Fashola said it is unfortunate that the Federal Government which cannot provide patrol vehicles for security agents in the country thus making them rely on state governors, could remain quiet while one of those saddled with the responsibility of making the country better is, instead, busy misappropriating government funds.
“It is sad to know that the Federal Government that allocates three patrol vehicles for one state police command of 370, 000 police men is unable to resolve how N255 million was used to purchase two saloon vehicles for one officer. It is a very grave irony”.
He disclosed that the cost of an average vehicle needed to patrol the state is just N5 million.
“And with such fund, we will have put at least 51 patrol vehicles on the road, patrolling the streets of Lagos”, he said, adding that in spite of all these, the Federal Government has resisted the idea of a state police.
He said while Lagos State was using the money in the State Security Trust Fund to provide vehicles for the Nigerian Prison Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and, indeed, the airport wing of the Nigerian Police, the same Aviation Ministry that manages the airport was getting itself involved in this “very odious car scandal of N255 million”.
He lamented that as part of the country, residents of his state have continued to bear the consequences of insecurity resulting from the Federal Government’s insensitivity to the plights of the people.
Fashola said the state crime database now has record content of 92, 488 which helps the government to keep track of all those who have been arrested, prosecuted, jailed or have any contact with the criminal justice system.
