The Joint Security Commission for Oyo and Ogun states, on Thursday, reassured residents and motorists of adequate security and safety of lives and properties, especially around the border areas and highways of both states during and beyond the yuletide.
The committee gave the assurance while briefing newsmen after a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the Dominion University, Ibadan, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Speaking, on behalf of the committee, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Oyo State on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd) and his Ogun State counterpart, AIG Olusola Subair (rtd), explained that the meeting was necessary for the committee to review and harmonize its activities and also restrategise to strengthen the security measures put in place for residents and people coming from the Diaspora to enjoy yuletide break in peace.
The committee expressed its appreciation to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for providing adequate equipment and supporting all the security agencies in their different states.
It, therefore, implored residents of both states to be security conscious, adding that security is the obligation of all.
Owoseni and Subair said: “As part of the outcome of the Joint Security Commission that Oyo and Ogun State Executive Governors established, we have come together again preparatory to the yuletide period.
“What this meeting has done is to appraise all the efforts that the security operatives of the two states have been making on the common highways that connect the two states.
“Looking at what we started more than two years ago, we have established that we have covered a lot of miles positively with regards to curbing criminal activities on the common highways of the two states.
“This is highly commendable. The respective service commanders that are involved, starting from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, DSS, Amotekun, NSCDC and all other security agencies from both states have been up and doing. We noticed there has been an improvement from when we started. And the media too is aware that we have not been having untoward incidents recorded along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway and the other highways that are coming to the two states.
“The purpose of doing this appraisal is to also strategize for the yuletide and beyond to see areas where we need to improve on. That is what we have just done.
“Strategies have been put in place in order to give confidence to the motoring public, especially our people that would be coming back from the Diaspora for the festive period. So, I want to say this axis in the South-West remains safe and secure and we will do more to ensure that people come here to enjoy their Christmas and New year celebration and beyond without any let or hindrance.”
The joint chairmen also said that the committee was collaborating with the DAWN Commission to ensure safety of the whole Southwest.
They said further, “There is an umbrella body for the Southwest called DAWN Commission and part of the security initiative is the State Security Network Amotekun, which has been created in the six states. Apart from the fact that the security heads of all the Southwest states are meeting, including the commanders of the Amotekun, this is just the one that is open to the public. But underground, there are collaborative efforts with other states in the Southwest to copy from one another and move to ensure that the Southwest remains safe and peaceful as it has always been.
“We want to reassure the motoring public that with the wherewithal that our governors have been providing, we will redouble our efforts and they should be confident to ply the road and do whatever they need to do without any fear.
“The two states also have communication integration, which can link each other. They can call 615 because we have that interconnectivity that works in such a way that when you call the toll-free number, we exchange information to ensure that when they see something and say something, the government will take action.”
Commending the security architecture put in place by the governors of Oyo and Ogun states for prioritizing security matters with the efforts of the joint technical security committee of both states, the Chancellor, Dominion University, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, said their collaborative efforts and synergies had brought peace and reduced banditry, kidnapping and other social vices along the expressway, stressing the importance of states to work together to combat crimes.