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AIG Kokumo Visits Lagos Police Command, Insists on Serious Handling of Security Matters
By Oki Samson
Since his assumption of office in May, 2021 as the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 (comprising Lagos and Ogun states), AIG Johnson Kokumo has been vibrant with activities targeted at security and protection of lives and properties. Yesterday, 19th August, he was able to attain his first, official 1-day familiarization tour to the Lagos State Police Command under the administration of CP Hakeem Odumosu.
Speaking during the visit, AIG Johnson Kokumo praised the government of Lagos state for the towering support for Police, ‘I appreciate the government of Lagos state for logistic support of the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Command. I was at the commissioning of vehicles and other operational equipment when our President Muhammadu Buhari visited. I can see that the equipment have been distributed for effective use.’
‘We thank the Lagos State Government for doing this and seize the opportunity to request for more because security is not a business that can be handled with levity. It has to be handled with seriousness. That is why our serious-minded Governor has given us support to do our job. I want to quickly advise that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’, we should resolve within ourselves to curb criminality and reduce it to barest minimum.’
He charged the Police officers and men to desist from getting involved in activities beyond their purview. ‘I want to admonish you to stay clear of civil matters. The criminal matters before us are large in volume. You should avoid dabbling in civil matters under whatever guise.’
He continued: ‘I want to commend the efforts of Commissioner of Police, Lagos in the area of training and of course, the 50-bed accommodation that is under construction. It is highly commendable, please keep it up. Your request for logistic support to IGP Usman Alkali Baba has been taken and I will table your request before him and see what we can possibly do to impact positively in area of logistic support for Lagos State Command. I appreciate the IGP Usman Alkali Baba for giving us all we require to work in Lagos and Ogun states effectively. Everything that we require will be communicated officially.’
Earlier in his welcome address to the visiting superior, Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu stated: ‘The Command has been relatively calm. It has been peaceful and crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and others have been tackled head-on. In the midst of this, the Command through the Grace of God, unrelenting efforts of officers and men, with strategic partners, and synergy of other sister agencies and members of the public have been able to record tremendous achievements to the admiration of the government and good people of Lagos state in particular and the country in general.’
Describing the return of AIG of Zone 2, AIG Johnson Kokumo to Lagos as second home coming since he left Lagos in 2016 as DCP (Operations), he added: ‘All these achievements could not have been possible but for your highly dedicated leadership and close mentorship which you have bestowed on the Command since assumption of duty as Supervisory AIG. The Command has not only keyed into your zero-tolerance for crime and respect for fundamental human rights but has continued to take from your wealth of experience which you have in your magnanimity made available to the Command. This, we shall continue to cherish.’
CP Odumosu presented the record of achievements of the Lagos Command to his superior, AIG Kokumo, ‘Lagos State Command was able to successfully manage the Yoruba Nation rally on 3rd of July to prevent breakdown of law and order in a civilized and professional manner. Also what many pessimists have anticipated will be a major political crisis before, during, and after the recently concluded LG/LCDA polls turned out to be a song of success. It is free, fair, and credible made possible due to the watertight security provided.’
The Lagos CP also noted that there is an ongoing 50-bed space building for the welfare of officers ‘to accommodate officers who were just posted into the state before they are deployed into their various areas and so that they can have a sense of belonging. This is done by the support of law-abiding citizens, associations and stakeholders. It will be completed and ready for use in the next few weeks.’
The Lagos Command which started in 1967 with 4 area commands and 23 divisions has grown into 14 area commands, 110 police divisions, and 74 police posts. The Command is also 17,907-personnel strong and is very strategic to the security of the city reputed to be West Africa’s economic hub. In the year 2021, the men and officers of the Command have gotten 232 armed robbery suspects arrested, 16 armed robbers died in encounter with Police, while 94 arms and 238 ammunitions were recovered. Also, 118 cultists were arrested while 14 cultism cases were recorded, and 176 murder suspects have also been arrested in 148 cases of murder. The 2021 record also showed that 283 suspects have been charged to court, 39 vehicles were recovered and returned to their owners and no life of any policeman was lost.
CP Hakeem Odumosu also thanked Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for the support that the Command has enjoyed so far.
Senior Management team of Zone 2 Police Command, Lagos Police Command management, representative of the Zonal Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Rev. Tosin Shobowale, Lagos PCRC Chairman, Apostle Kehinde Showemimo and many other dignitaries were present at the event to honour the Zonal Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House).
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced this in a statement, on Thursday.
A former aide of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Bwala worked actively for his former principal who lost to Tinubu.
However, after the elections, he worked his way into the camp of Tinubu, sparking controversy.
Onanuga also announced the appointments of three directors-general of various agencies.
They are:
(1) Mr. Olawale Olopade — Director-General, National Sports Commission
(2) Dr. Abisoye Fagade — Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism
(3) Dr. Adebowale Adedokun — Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement
Olopade, the new Director-General of the National Sports Commission, is a sports administrator with many years of experience in the sector.
He served as commissioner of youth and sports in Ogun state and was chairman of the local organising committee of the 2024 National Sports Festival.
The new Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Dr. Abisoye Fagade is a marketing communication professional. He is the founder and managing director of Sodium Brand Solutions.
Adedokun, the new helmsman of the Bureau of Public Procurement, was the director of Research/Training and Strategic Planning at the bureau before his appointment.
Daily Trust
Globacom has received commendation from the Vice Chancellor of BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State, Professor Jonathan Oyebamiji Babalola, for consistently delivering digital services to the university over the years.
This acclamation was made by Professor Babalola during a business meeting in his office at the University of Iwo in Osun State, when he hosted a team from Globacom’s Enterprise Business Group.
The VC conveyed how much he enjoyed working with Globacom and encouraged the company to keep up its uninterrupted services to the academic community.
In order to help the university fulfill its mission of creating better products and advance the frontiers of academic development, he also asked Globacom to support BOWEN University through a number of CSR initiatives.
Speaking at the meeting, Adeniyi Odejobi, the Enterprise Business Lead, Globacom, said that the company has been a major telecommunications service provider in Nigeria, providing telephony and digital solution services for millions of people across the country as well as enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, large corporations, public sector organizations, and universities. It is also a digital solutions company.
According to Adeniyi, Glo has been at the forefront of revolutionary changes in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector for more than 20 years and is largely to be commended for democratizing the use of telephones and telephony services across the country over the years. “Because of Globacom, every Nigerian today can afford a telephone line”, he noted.
According to Adeniyi, Globacom also evolved a good number of innovations that have aided revolutionary developments in the Nigerian telecom sector, such as Globacom’s fully owned international submarine cable, Glo 1.
In order to advance the university, Adeniyi urged it to deepen its collaboration with Glo in order to offer digital services such as Glo LMS, Toll-Free Data, and Mobility services.
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has alleged that the depth of corruption in the power sector would make anyone weep for Nigeria.
He said: “As we speak, we are grappling with electricity. If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears.
“People were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment. Instead of using what they call 9.0 guage, they will go and buy 5.0.
“Every time you see the thing tripping off, the thing gets burnt, and all of that, it falters and it collapses. It’s part of our problems.”
Olukoyede made the revelation during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between the Commission and lawmakers to combat financial crimes effectively.
One of the key areas of concern, according to Olukoyede, is the power sector, where corrupt practices have been undermining the country’s infrastructure.
It was at this point that the EFCC boss revealed that some contractors awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment were cutting corners.
He said they were using substandard materials that have contributed to the frequent power outages and system failures.
This, he said, is one of the many examples of how corruption in critical sectors is holding back the country’s development.
Olukoyede also discussed the EFCC’s new strategic focus on asset tracing and recovery, which he credited for the agency’s successes over the past year.
Furthermore, he revealed that “For every N10 recovered, perhaps N30 or N40 Naira may have been stolen.
“If we recover about N440 billion and several billions of dollars in a year, imagine the total amount siphoned from our system. That’s the unfortunate reality.
“Thus, we are focusing on prevention. Over the last year, we have established a new directorate for risk assessment and control.
“To recover 10 Naira, you may spend between 4 and 5 Naira. But to prevent 10 Naira from being stolen, you spend less than 1 Naira, based on our research and experience.
“Prevention is, therefore, the more effective way to combat corruption.
“We need more resources to carry out our mandate effectively. Our staff are underpaid, and we need to improve their welfare.”
Reacting, Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, expressed the committee’s readiness to support the EFCC through legislation and improved budget allocations.
Onwusibe also urged the Commission to enhance its operational capacity and strengthen collaborations with other agencies and development partners to improve accountability and efficiency in the fight against corruption.”
