He said the review of the current revenue allocation formula was long overdue, as the prosperity of Lagos State directly or indirectly had its multiplying effect on the South-West region and the entire country as a whole.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day South-West Zonal public hearing on review of revenue allocation formula by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, held on Monday at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the best way to guarantee national progress and development was by paying attention to sub-national development because the national was a summation and a reflection of the sub-national.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also reiterated the call for Lagos State to be accorded special status in recognition of its huge financial commitments to infrastructure and provision of basic amenities for the increasing population of its residents, as well as its preeminent contribution to the national coffers.

He said the call, which had been re-echoed at different fora and at various levels and tiers of government, could not be over-emphasised, especially against the backdrop of the current economic situation of the country, the aftermath of the EndSARS protests a year ago, and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which Lagos had been the national epicenter.

“Our demand is a sharing formula that is just, fair and equitable; reflecting the contribution of stakeholders to the common purse; and also one that enhances the capacity of state and local governments to deliver high-quality services and the full dividends of democracy to the greatest number of our people.

“Lagos State is no doubt the nation’s commercial capital, and population center. The level of funding required to service the state’s social and public infrastructure is so significant that it will be difficult for the state to bear the burden for much longer under the present arrangement.

“I should say that it will actually be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is therefore necessary to give due consideration to all the variables that support our advocacy for a Special Status.

“The call for a special status for Lagos is not a selfish proposition; it is in the best interest of the country and all Nigerians, for Lagos which accounts for about 20 per cent of the national GDP and about 10 per cent of the nation’s population to continue to prosper,” the governor said.

Justifying the need for Lagos State to be accorded special status, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos is more than just another state in the Nigerian federation, noting that there is no tribe in the country that had no significant stake in Lagos State.

He said: “As the former capital of the country for 77 years (compared to the 28 years that Abuja has been the Federal Capital Territory), Nigeria’s largest metropolis still bears the heavy brunt of being home to all Nigerians irrespective of age, class, gender, religious affiliation or tribe.

“There are several statistics that show the number of people that comes into Lagos every day, however, there are clear indications that most of these people migrate with the intention to make Lagos their new home and in pursuit of personal dreams due to the opportunities the city-state seemingly possesses, and this portends additional responsibilities on the government.

“Additionally, Lagos still harbours a huge number of federal establishments which could not be moved to Abuja. These include military cantonments and barracks, Police, Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence, Prisons, Road Safety and security/intelligence establishments.

“There are several reasons to justify the call for a special status for Lagos apart from the aforementioned factors and by extension, a review of the Revenue Allocation Sharing Formula.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also said that it will be totally unfair for Lagos State to be left alone to bear the burden of the massive destruction experienced by the state during the EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums and the COVID-19 pandemic without assistance from the centre.

“This month marks one year after the massive destruction experienced by the state in the violence that accompanied the hijacking of the EndSARS protests. Public buildings were burnt down and historical infrastructure destroyed.

“Although we have put that experience behind us and forged ahead, the reality of this unfortunate incident remains with us; resources that should be committed to other areas of need are now being used for the restoration of these public facilities. It will be totally unfair for Lagos State to be left alone to bear these huge expenses without assistance from the Centre.

“COVID-19 pandemic is another issue that has once again, supported the justification for Lagos to be accorded the privilege of a special status. As much as this affects the entire country, it is a fact that the degree of havoc caused by this virus differs from State to State.

“Lagos was the epicentre for this virus, the same way it was for the Ebola virus some years ago. The management of these unforeseen occurrences comes with huge responsibilities and financial commitments on the part of the state government,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the chairman and members of RMAFC for taking a bold step, which he believed will “result in a fundamental alteration of the current revenue sharing formula, in favour of one that is truly fair and equitable, and that takes into full consideration the specific and more pragmatic fiscal contexts of the sub-national governments of the Federation.”

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The Southwest Governors’ Forum told the IGP Muhammed Adamu in Lagos on Thursday that the development would spring up fresh efforts to secure local communities.

The Forum spoke through its chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, at the South-West Security Meeting on Community Policing convened at the instance of the IGP.

The meeting was held on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos State Government in Alausa.

At the end of the meeting, which held for about two hours behind closed doors, the IGP and representatives of each state okayed the framework of South-West Regional Security Network (otherwise known as Operation Amotekun), but the initiative will not be run as a regional security operations, as initially suggested. It will be state-led effort, the IGP said.

Also, the meeting ratified community policing model proposed by the IGP and the initiative would be complementing Operation Amotekun and conventional police operations in all local communities.

The host and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the security gathering was part of extensive meetings with the police leadership on adopting new strategies and initiatives towards securing lives and property of people in the South-West.

Lagos Government, Sanwo-Olu said, will continue to champion initiatives and frameworks that continue to provide support and logistics required for effective policing in the region.

Akeredolu said the meeting was of “great importance” to the people of South-West, confirming that the Forum had a fruitful discussion with the IGP.

Speaking on the outcome, Akeredolu said: “The Governors of South-West and the IGP have held a very fruitful discussion and it is clear now to all of us that community policing, which the Nigeria Police is anchoring is one that will benefit all of us. We have chosen that we will embrace community in its entirety.

“In addition, we have spoken and we want everyone to know that Amotekun was not conceived as a regional police, but a state-based security outfit. We have come out of this meeting happy and we have agreed on the resolution. We have shed lights on dark areas and we are on the same page with the police with respect to these issues.”

IGP Adamu substantiated Akeredolu’s claim, saying the participants at the meeting had fine-tuned Operation Amotekun and adopted it to be state-led initiative and not regional.

He said: “This is the second meeting we have held with the governors of Southwest region concerning the creation of Operation Amotekun. The just concluded meeting was to discuss and fine-tune Amotekun. Our conclusion is what the chairman of South-West Governors’ Forum has explained.

“Amotekun is not a regional security outfit. Every state has one form of security arrangement, whether it is vigilante or neighbourhood watch that are working with security agencies in the states to fight crime. Amotekun is not different from these initiatives. We have agreed that community policing strategy be infused into the Amotekun structure, so that policing will be initiative of the community members.”

Adamu said the police would be part of the recruitment, training and deployment of personnel to be assigned for Amotekun operations, adding that the initiative would work with community policing model.

The IGP said policing must start with the public, urging members of the public to unite and form an alliance against criminals in their communities.

He said the police would support the residents’ effort to keep their communities safe, but added that any decision to be taken must come from the public.

The IGP praised Lagos Government for adopting a community-led policing arrangement, saying Lagos remained an example where “a good structure” of community policing had been effective.

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This is the decision reached on Thursday by the Federal Government and the governors of the states of the South West of Nigeria who are behind Amotekun.

The agreement was reached at a meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Present at the occasion were the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the governors of South West states and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said the decision to have a legal framework drawn was to address the issues causing the crisis over the setting up of Amotekun.

His words:  “We had a very fruitful discussion. Governors of South-West, as you know, we were all there. The meeting was presided over by the Vice President. The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was there as well as the Inspector General of Police.”

He added:  “We have rubbed minds and all of us have agreed on the way forward. The most important one is that we are going to have legal framework to back this Amotekun. And this legal framework is going to be one which we all are going to look at and will be sure to go without any hindrance.”

Akeredolu disclosed that Malami, at the meeting, insisted that the formation of Amotekun was illegal.

Recall that Amotekun was launched on January 9 to stem the increasing rate of criminal activities in the South West of the the country.

The governors of the six states in the South-West are the organisers.

However, hardly had the security network been launched than Malami declared it illegal.

His reaction ignited controversy with many declaring that Malami was discriminatory since similar organisations were set up in other parts of the country, particularly, North and no dust was raised.

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The Director, Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof.Tajudeen Akanji, made the call while speaking as guest speaker at the 4th Surveyor Lasisi Lasupo Ali Annual Lecture.

The lecture is entitled, “Emerging Security Threats, State Stability and Economic Development of South Western Nigeria.”

It was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, and held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Governors of the South West states are Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Rotimi Akreredolu (Ondo) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Present at the event were, among others, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Muhammed Fadeyi; Chairman of the occasion and NIS National President, Mr. Adelodun Olaiya, and Surveyor Alabo Charles and Chairman, Oyo State branch of NIS, Surveyor Aderemi Femi Kobiowu.

The South West region, in the last few months, has experienced cases of kidnapping and reported cases of killings by some people suspected to be bandits and armed robbers.

One of such cases making it necessary to declare emergency was the kidnap of Dayo Adewole, a son of a former Minister for Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, at Iroko, near Ibadan.

But, Akanji said one of the panacea to the problem of insecurity which is alien to the region, is “for the governors to declare a state of emergency as a measure to restore peace and security to the region.”

Akanji who indicated that the drivers of insecurity included globalisation which he said had broken down trade barriers between nations, expansion and integration of economies as well as people, also called on the Nigerian government to reorganise its security and military formations by introducing state police as well as addressing the problem of poverty and unemployment in the country.

He blamed the high rate of crime in Nigeria to a number of factors including “the state’s incapacity to forecast and address early warning signals on insecurity.”

“Most of the challenges we face are results of governance deficit.

“Although insecurity is a global phenomenon, the difference between communities and states with security issues is their proactiveness and ability to prepare, forecast, project, confront and recover from the security challenges,” he said.

Ogundoyin in his remarks, said as part of efforts to nip the security challenges in the bud, Oyo State government would soon unveil a new security architecture.

“We have taken security for granted in Nigeria. I recall that while we were growing up, we could move around freely without any fear.

“Oyo State House of Assembly is ready to partner with the Nigerian Institution of Surveyor in all possible ways including ways to ensure security in Oyo Sate”, he said.

The NIS president lauded the efforts of NIS, Oyo State for considering it appropriate to honour Pa L. L. Ali with the annual lecture series, saying the gesture showed the recognition of selfless service and respect “Baba” had for the profession.

Olaiya, speaking on behalf of the L. L. Ali’s family, said Pa Ali’s honesty, discipline and virtues, had constituted lasting heritage which brought about the annual lecture in honour of the celebrant.

Kobiowu on his part, described the 98-year-old Surveyor L. L. Ali, as a collosus in the surveying profession because of his uncompromising respect for the ethics of the job in his active days and therefore he was being celebrated with the annual lecture.

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The summit, which focused on Western Nigeria, was organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) in collaboration with the six governors.

The governors are Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; Mr Dapo Abiodun of Ogun; Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Mr Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun and the host governor, Mr Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

In his address of welcome, Makinde argued that a regional approach to resolving the security challenges facing the South West states was important.

According to him, the South West states were interlinked and the challenges of one state could easily become the challenges of the entire zone.

He said some states were close to international borders, increasing the threat that the zone was collectively facing.

The governor described the problem of insecurity in the zone as “a snake on the roof and we cannot ignore it and go to sleep.”

Makinde decried the rising spate of kidnappings and the growing tension between farmers and herdsmen in the zone.

He was, however, optimistic that deliberations at the summit would “throw up tailor-made solutions that can be applied to the states of the South West.”

“As a group on this side of the Niger, we have always had more things that unite us than those that divide us.

“We have always held our doors open and been welcoming of strangers and want things to continue like this because the diversity in our states is an ingredient for economic development.

“We shall not allow the actions of miscreants and enemies of unity to make us change who we are.

“As governors, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone in our midst, indigene or alien, is assured of security of life and property.

“We know that there are barriers preventing us from carrying out this constitutional responsibility to the fullest measure.

“One of those barriers is the fact that we do not control the security apparatuses in our states.

“It is my belief that at the end of our deliberations, we would have come up with arguments that we are in support of state police,” Makinde stated.

In his keynote address, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, noted that insecurity had became a major issue in the polity.

Akeredolu, who is the chairman of the South West Governors Forum, said that the security of life and property of citizens should not be compromised.

He urged other governors in the zone to be proactive in tackling the current security issues, saying adoption of a scientific approach would bear far-reaching effects.

Akeredolu said Ondo had adopted a holistic and integrated strategy to manage security risk.

He urged the governors in the zone to ensure that their strategies were harmonised to achieve a common purpose, stressing that the respective states could not work in isolation.

“We must cast aside all partisan considerations in the interest of our people.

“Our ultimate aim must be the socio-economic integration of the region which reflects our collective aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous environment,” he said.

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti in his remarks said that the advocacy for state police was not in opposition to a federal police.

Fayemi, who is also the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said there was need for state police to complement the work of the federal police.

He noted that the security challenges were not peculiar to the zone alone but a national problem.

Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Mr Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said the summit was a call to duty for the governors to secure the region.

The trio said that the priority of the governors was to make every nook and cranny of the region safe for its people.

The governors assured the people of the zone that the issue of insecurity would soon be tackled.

A Deputy Inspector General of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, who represented the Acting Inspector General of Police, Adamu Idris, said there was no nation that was isolated from crime.

He said: “We are now more conscious of the imperative of collaboration, the indispensability of common front to fight our common enemies who make lives miserable by their nefarious activities.

“Governors are central and their enviable roles pivotal to security of their states, the people are also cardinal in the overall security architecture.

“This is why everyone who desires peace and adequate protection must establish with the police and other relevant security agencies a symbiotic relationship that will foster or engender the much desired peace and tranquility in our various communities,” he said.

Lakanu gave an assurance that the police had put in place frameworks that would facilitate the strengthening of Operation Puff Adder and ensure the sustenance of its gains.

“These include plans directed at re-organising and re-launching the safer highway and Safer City Models of Policing which will entail the acquisition of new fleet of vehicles that will be deployed to dominate the public space as well as the emplacement of CCTV, ” he said.

Source:  NAN

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