N3 Million Is Required To Properly Kit One Police Officer, Says LSSTF Boss

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, said N3million is needed to fully and properly kit a police officer, saying, hence, to kit 33,000 police officers in Lagos, it will cost about N99 billion.

Balogun spoke yesterday, at the 15th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, with the Governor themed: “Reconceptualising Safety and Security in Lagos State,” held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island.

He said, properly kitting each of the officers would require the provision of uniform, taser, tactical gear (light, knife, jacket, belt, gloves, knee, shoulder, ankle, and boots).

Others include a bulletproof vest, ballistic helmet, tear gas, push-to-talk on cellular communication equipment, rain gear etc.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Boards of Trustees (BoT) of LSSTF, Mr. Kehinde Durosimi-Etti, said the annual security town hall meeting is for security agencies to render an account of their operations and also provide the present administration, the opportunities to share its vision for a safer and more secured Lagos.

He also implored the private sector and individuals to play their part by contributing to the LSSTF to ensure that the security agencies in the state are fully equipped so as to respond swiftly to any security breach.

LSSTF Executive Secretary, Balogun, said N3 million is needed to fully and properly kit a police officer.

According to him: “The high cost of equipment required for security is a big issue, especially for technology related equipment such as good quality drones, CCTV cameras, trackers, etc.

“Our security agencies require advanced training, more equipment that would support an intelligence-led approach to crime prevention (drones, trackers, scanners at city gates, gunshot detection devices), more non-lethal weaponry.

“To fully kit one policeman with uniform, taser, tactical gear (light, knife, jacket, belt, gloves, shoulder, ankle, and boots), bulletproof vest, ballistic helmet, tear gas, push-to-talk on cellular communication equipment, rain gear, etc, will cost at least N3 million.

Hence to kit 33,000 police officers in Lagos will cost about N99 billion. This is our reality if we truly want a highly motivated and fully equipped police force in the state.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu confirmed that in the last one year, cases of crime within the state have reduced.

Odumosu, who disclosed that no bank robbery was recorded in the last one year, called on the general public to support the fight against crime and cultism.

He said the Lagos Command will continue to rely on logistics support from Lagos State Government, LSSTF and other stakeholders in order to sustain the current tempo against crimes and criminalities in the state.

Some of the speakers and stakeholders at the 15th Annual Town Hall Meeting with the Governor also commended the state government for improving the security architecture in the state and pledged their continuous support to tackle security challenges in Lagos.