Fanfare as Egbeda Police division gets donation of administrative block

It is often stated that for the fight against crime to be effective, communities have to partner with security agencies because securing the community is a collective efforts. Based on this belief, individuals in the society have been contributing their quota to the development of security agencies by helping to fill perceived vacuums to ensure the personnel have seamless operations.

Because the need for cooperation is an incontrovertible fact, the Nigeria police created a platform that will enable it work hand in hand with members of their immediate communities through what is called the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) for all its posts.

It is therefore not surprising that police commands across the country have been enjoying a symbiotic relationship with domiciled communities through the PCRC. And for the Egbeda Police Divisional headquarters, the relationship had been beneficial over the years because the PCRC had been a constant source of support.

This is the reason the police across its rank and file as well as community leaders converged at the headquarters of the command at Gbagi, Ibadan on Friday, to witness the commissioning and handover of an ultra modern administrative block which was donated and financed by an individual.

The storey building was financed and donated by Ambassador Amos Gbenga Olaniyan, a security expert and Chief Executive Officer of DHIL/Crime Alert Network, who is also the patron of Egbeda PCRC based on his belief that security of lives and property is as a matter of necessity, a joint effort.

The building was commissioned by the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Shina  T. Olukolu, who expressed satisfaction that the community understands that the police  is their friend and they are willing to work hand in hand with the police to secure the society and rid it of crime. He reiterated the commitment of the police to making the society a peaceful one, where people can work and live without any form of threat.

The Divisional Police Officer of Egbeda Police Divisional headquarters, CSP Adeola Odekunle in his welcome address stated that the Egbeda PCRC is the most dynamic in the state, adding that it had helped the police operate effectively over the years.

He explained that the project had been on hold for over three years before Ambassador Olaniyan took it up to build a befitting administrative block for the command, adding that he and his officers had already commenced building toilet facilities for the command headquarters by themselves.

Speaking on the project, Ambassador Olaniyan said it is a dream achieved because security is not the responsibility of government alone no matter the circumstance.

“No doubt government alone cannot handle security matters, no matter how rich, strong, intelligent or poor a country could be, security of lives and property is a matter of joint efforts. Though the Nigerian political system seems to discourage individual contribution to national development, one thing that is sure is that if one cannot secure others he or she should try as much as possible to protect himself.

“Crime Alert as a security company believes that despite the fact that police is trying its best, there is need for the private sector to help the weakness of the law enforcement agency to make it more vibrant and efficient. Anytime people blame the conduct of any police officer, what always comes to my mind is whether these people are exposed to any international practice.

“There is nothing bad, if government send officers for international trainings for them to understand how best to relate with members of the public. I wish to call on individuals to do what they can to help the Nigeria Police because by doing so, we are helping ourselves and ensuring our safety,” Olaniyan said.

Speaking on security matters in Nigeria, Olaniyan stated that police alone cannot handle security matters because it has come to a serious level and appealed to the Police Commissioner to “embrace every idea that can assist you to achieve your dream of securing our dear nation. I appreciate the idea of recruiting officers for community policing raised by the Inspector General of Police but  I will still suggest that you partner with the  private sector which has the strength to help you at no cost, all you need is just to monitor.

“What we are doing at Crime Alert is strengthening the actors in community policing, bringing security closer to people through technology, we make use of all available  local security  guys, train them on the best way to relate with people and secure their lives and property.

I want you to believe that if you can work with these people, police will achieve more than double of what you are achieving,” Olaniyan stated.

He concluded by commending the Inspector General of police for supporting Operation Amotekun which he said will help police to achieve its vision for community policing and expressed his appreciation to the Oyo State Command of Nigeria Police for giving Crime Alert the opportunity to contribute to National Security Development.