By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has assured residents of a crime-free state at the Year 2016 Community Day held recently at the Police College Ground, Ikeja.
Mr Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Abdul-Lateef Abdul-Hakeem, enjoined everyone to join hands with his administration to make the state safe for all, adding that all hands must be on deck to eliminate kidnapping, sexual harassment and other criminal acts.
“I urge you all to be law abiding and vigilant in all our communities so as not to allow any form of criminality such as kidnapping, sexual harassment and robbery in our state. Today, our security slogan, ‘see something, say something,’ has become the password for 24-hour vigilance,” he stated.
Mr Ambode noted that in order to strengthen community based security initiatives, the Neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill which was recently signed into law was part of government efforts to institutionalise and deepen community policing strategy in the State.
He revealed that no fewer than 5,000 Neighbourhood Watchers will be employed to complement other security agencies operating in Lagos State.
While ruminating on the theme of the event ‘Community Policing: A Panacea for Securing our Communities,’ he emphasized its aptness and relevance as it focuses on a key factor that needs collective action in our various communities.
In his welcome address, the Special Adviser on Communities and Communication, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, noted that the present administration has been working in collaboration with all the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in ensuring a viable and safe Megacity State.
He therefore enjoined everyone to be alive to their responsibilities which include civic enlightenment, good environmental sanitation, monitoring of all infrastructure provided by the State Government and above all, payment of their dues to the government at all levels.
The Chairman of Conference 57 who is also the Sole Administrator, Bariga Local Council Development Area, Mr Sanya Oshijo, said the celebration of Year 2016 Community Day is in line with the present administration’s vision of inclusive governance in the State.
He commended all the CDAs for their various self- help projects across the State thus complementing Government efforts in their Communities.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr Muslim Folami, in his remarks applauded all the CDAs and other stakeholders for their support in the area of self-help projects executed within their communities.
He urged the CDAs to support the present administration to deliver more on its promise of improved programmes and projects.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya