Osun ALGON Hands Over 60 Patrol Vehicles to Bolster State Security

Local government leaders in Osun State, operating under the umbrella of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, recently provided 60 patrol vehicles to various security outfits within the state. This handover ceremony took place at the Nigeria Police Force’s Osun State Command Headquarters in Osogbo, spearheaded by ALGON's chairman, Mr. Samuel Idowu.

Mr. Idowu, recalling a prior donation of 30 patrol vehicles to conventional security agencies in the state, emphasized that this initiative underscores the association's unwavering dedication to the safety, security, and welfare of the populace. He stated, “Just few weeks ago, we were here to unveil the distribution of the patrol vehicles and I am glad to inform this gathering that the remaining of the vehicles are here for distribution aimed at strengthening the security, maintenance of law and order in the state. This is indeed, ‘a promise made, a promise kept.’ ”

He further highlighted the critical role of security in development, asserting, “Security remains the bedrock of any meaningful development anywhere in the world. Without peace and stability, no society can thrive, and no government can achieve its developmental goals hence the bold steps taken by the leadership of our councils to support the security formations in the state.” Idowu attributed the successful pooling of resources by the council areas for this initiative to the autonomy they now enjoy, following a landmark Supreme Court judgment.

According to Idowu, “Autonomy enables us to act without undue delays, to design solutions that are tailored to our local realities, and to take responsibility for the security and welfare of our communities. As council executives, we are now better positioned to initiate and execute people-oriented programmes such as this distribution of security patrol vehicles. This is a clear testament to what can be achieved when governance is brought closer to the grassroots and when local authorities are trusted with the resources and responsibility to act.” He clarified that while 60 vehicles were being donated on that day, an earlier donation of 30 vehicles brought the total to 90.

Mr. Idowu urged the recipient security organizations to deploy the vehicles responsibly and ensure their proper upkeep. Responding on behalf of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, lauded Osun ALGON for their timely intervention. CP Gotan stressed that security is a collective responsibility and noted that ALGON's investment reflects confidence in the ability of security agencies to consistently deliver effective service to the citizens.

The Commissioner of Police added, “These operational vehicles will significantly improve mobility, response time, patrol coverage, intelligence-led operations, and inter-agency collaboration in combating crime and maintaining public order. As beneficiaries of this support, we assure members of the public that these assets will be deployed judiciously, maintained properly, and utilized strictly for the purpose (security) for which they are intended; which is to safeguard lives and property and ensure peace across Osun State.”

Earlier reports by The PUNCH indicated that various conventional and non-conventional security organizations in Osun State had received 300 motorcycles from the state chapter of ALGON to bolster their operations. During that previous event, also held at the Osun State Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo, CP Ibrahim Gotan commended President Bola Tinubu for granting financial autonomy to local government areas nationwide. The CP reiterated that such donations would enhance the operational capacity of security agencies and emphasized the necessity of collaboration and support from all stakeholders to overcome the nation's security challenges.