Kunle Adelabu
-Area N Commander lauded IGP, Tinubu over innovation
As part of the activities marking the Police Week, the Area N Commander ACP Agene James Olah, led the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and officers under his command on Thursday on sanitation of different locations in Ikorodu.
About 50 officers wearing white t- shirt on camouflage with jungle hat were seen carrying brooms, rake, cutlasses and a wheel barrow for the sanitation that lasted for about two hours.
The exercise which commenced at 8am at the Shagamu Road Police Division, Ikorodu saw the officers moving to the Ikorodu Garage Roundabout where they engaged in thorough sanitation of the location.
They also extended the exercise to Lagos Road up to the frontage of the BRT terminal before moving along the Ayangbure Road and terminated the exercise at the Ayangbure Palace, where they were also seen cutting grasses, sweeping and picking refuse.
ACP Olah, the Area N Commander explaining the initiative said that it is a way of identifying with the public and further creating good relationship between the police and the people that they are serving.
He also highlighted other programmes lined for the police week which is being observed nationwide.
“This is a community outreach; trying to reach out to the members of the community where we are serving. This is getting close to them and letting them see us as we are; that we can be friendly and that is what we are and like you always hear, ‘Police is your Friend.’
“We are here to clean up the Ikorodu Roundabout as part of the programme lined up for the Nigeria Police Week
“This is also happening in other areas in the whole of Lagos and at the Command, our Commissioner of Police is leading a team in Ikeja doing the same thing and that is what is happening in every command throughout the federation.
“We are also having medical mission at Ikeja as part of the lined – up activities for today.
“On Friday, we are going to be having stakeholders’ meeting with our esteemed stakeholders and on Saturday, there will be a walk – out with the Commissioner of Police in Ikeja
“The final prgramme is coming up on Monday in Abuja to be led by the Inspector – General of Police.”
The Area N Commander also noted, “This is just a way of reaching to the members of the police and getting closer to them more than before and to also recognize the efforts of our officers who served this nation meritoriously. Some of them have paid the supreme price in protecting the nation.”
He lauded the Inspector General of Police, IG Kayode Egbetokun and President Bola Tinubu for the innovation.
“This would be an annual programme that we are starting this year. We are very grateful to the Inspector – General of Police for this innovation and also to the President and the Commander – in – Chief, who has approved this for us.
“This is a milestone in the history of policing in Nigeria and I have no doubt that many good things would come out of it and with time, people will begin to see what we really are as Nigerians.”
He charged members of the public on the need to see police as part of them and desist from crimes.
“The general public should accept us as their brothers, sisters, uncles and as friends. Apart from attending to their personal problems and preventing crimes here and there, we can also attend to issues like cleaning the environment and assisting the public in whatever capacity.
“That is who we are and we want to get closer to them as much as we want them to get closer to us.
“We want the public to also learn and inculcate the attitude of keeping our environment clean and like the saying, ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’ there are many positive things associated with a clean environment. With a clean environment, we will stay away from sickness.
“I also enjoined members of the public to stay away from crimes and cultism,” ACP Olah charged.
At the Ayangbure Palace, the Area Commander described the monarch as a worthy father who has established good relationship between Ikorodu community and the police.
“The Ayangbure is our very good father and that is why we are at his palace to pay homage and clean it as part of the exercise.
“He is a worthy father who has been here for us and we will continue to pray for long reign for him on the throne and the people of Ikorodu will enjoy his reign for a long time.
“We are also sure that his partnership with the police will continue to bring peace to the community.”
At the end of the exercise, the Commander thanked the rank and file and the offices that took part in the exercise for their dedication to their duty to the country.
He appealed to them to continue to give their best in discharging their responsibilities.
Divisional Police Officers from Shagamu Road, Ikorodu, Owode, Ipakodo and Owutu were also part of the sanitation exercise.
The initiative to clean up the environment received commendations from residents and motorists that saw the officers during the exercise in Ikorodu.
