For the record Gov Abiodun speech while receiving report of security trust fund

Protocols,
As part of our efforts towards giving Ogun State and our people focused and qualitative governance, and to create an enabling environment for a Public Private Sector Partnership (PPP) which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring development and individual prosperity of our people, we are not unaware to the primary place of security for individuals. It is only when security is assured that individuals can venture out in search of their livelihood and to meet other basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and self actualization. And, for a society that desires more private investment, there is the need to assure investors of the safety of their lives and investments.

1. To underline the preeminence of security in governance, the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Section 14 Sub section 2(b), states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. As an Administration, let me restate that the people will be the basis of our Government. This event therefore is a demonstration of our unreserved commitment towards not just ensuring that our people live a good life, but that they pursue their legitimate business in a secured environment.
2. But even at that, it will be uncharitable to misguide ourselves into believing that we can singlehandedly provide all the funds and other wherewithal to ensure the security of lives and property of our people and all the other aspects of our “Building our Future Together” Agenda.
3. We are allowing our people, as the real essence of government, to make their positive contributions. Today’s event, therefore, is another approach towards giving more of our people – individuals and cooperate organizations – a new window of opportunity to make their own meaningful contributions towards the overall development of our dear State.
4. The aim of setting up this Security Trust Fund, which is going to be private sector driven, is to support the government in addressing the various security challenges facing our dear State. This new and reinvigorated Security Trust Fund, will be responsible for sourcing and efficiently deploying the resources towards achieving a safe and secure environment. What is more, is that the resources will be deployed for not just to purchase materials, but also to reposition the security agencies in our dear State and the general welfare of the security personnel. It is our sincere belief that with this Security Trust Fund, our security apparatus will be further strengthened to provide a more secure environment, where our people will live a more prosperous life.
5. Let me state that we have put together a crop of experienced, renowned and committed individuals who represent diverse interests and stakeholders to serve as Trustees of the Fund. Members of the Ogun State Security Trust Fund Committee are:
6. This new Security Trust Fund Committee will have the following terms of reference amongst others:
   to provide money for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment and such human, material and financial resources shall be necessary to prevent crime and preserve public security in the State;
   to promote the efficiency of all the security agencies in the State;
   to hold for the benefit of all residents of the State, gifts, property and money for the purpose of crime prevention and public security in the State;
   to mobilize funding and resources in cash or kind from public, private, corporate, institutional or other sources and to manage those resources in a transparent and accountable manner for the purpose of public security in the State;
   to reserve part of the fund for the training and retraining of security personnel in the State; and,
   to do all other things and perform all other functions for the purpose of public security as are contained in the Ogun State Security Trust Fund Law 2011 as amended by the Ogun State Security Trust Fund (Amendment) Law 2019.
7. I enjoin the entire people of Ogun State, as well as corporate bodies operating in Ogun State and beyond to cooperate and support this Security Trust Fund with their money, materials and services. The same goes for all our policies and programmes, and, together we will walk this path of glory and achieve Ogun State of our dreams.
8. Let me therefore re-assure our people that our Administration will remain unwaveringly committed to the provision of a better and more prosperous life for the people of Ogun State and all those who have made our dear State their home. For example, in the area of security, we will continue to ensure that our State remains safe for life and property. Although, we had two cases of kidnap along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on 23rd and 24th July, 2019 involving seven victims in all; and, another one on Thursday, 1st August, 2019 along Sagamu-Benin-Ore Expressway involving five victims including a Deaconess of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. I want to re-assure all our people that these were just flash events. They were tests of our resolve and we have demonstrated in clear terms our strong commitment to ensure that our dear State will continue to be secure for our people and all those who have made our dear State their home. The victims of the kidnap were rescued unhurt, and the kidnappers arrested. For this and other things, let me thank specially our dear President, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu for their quick intervention in the deployment of men and materials, which made the rescue of the victims and arrest of suspects possible. The suspects are currently helping investigation. Let me also thank the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bashir Dabup Makama; the Director of the Ogun State Office of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. David Tuksa; and, all other security agencies in Ogun State for their quick response whenever we call upon them.
9. However, we must all realize that we cannot leave security to only the security agencies and their personnel alone. Security is a business of all. I therefore call on all our traditional rulers, Community Development Associations (CDAs); Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); Corporate Organizations; and, individuals to collaborate and support our security agencies by providing useful information on suspicious people and movement.
10. On the macro plane, we must also understand that just as the geographical location of our dear State gives us an advantage as the Gateway State, there are also the attendant security challenges. We cannot rule out the fact that as existing businesses continues to thrive and the number of new investments continues to grow, some unscrupulous people may want to take advantage of our conducive ambience to perpetrate crime. Let me however at this juncture say unequivocally that no part of Ogun State will be a safe-haven for criminals and criminality in whatever form. For people with legitimate businesses, let me assure you that Ogun State will continue to be a paradise. But, let those who think that they can come into Ogun State with criminal tendencies have a quick rethink. Ogun State will never be a home for criminals, whether big or small. For such people, hell will be a child’s play: we will smoke them out, arrest them and hand them over to the swift hand of justice. And, for anybody, landlords or tenants, this is a very strong note of warning. Any property found to be serving as hideouts to criminals will not only be taken over by government, but such facility will also be demolished. Whoever found to be harbouring such criminals will be arrested and handed over for prosecution.
11. Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, we are doing all this to provide a secure environment for our people. But, we also know that security is not a matter of guns, bullets, armored personnel carriers and bullet proof vests. In a related dimension, we are putting in place various collaborative strategies to ensure a crime-free society. Examples of such initiatives are:
    i. Opening of the Ogun Job Portal: This is aimed at providing our people with a viable platform that gives optimal job opportunities. Our belief is that a gainfully employed citizenry will not only contribute to the development of our dear State, but will also have no time to conceive criminality;
    ii. Partnership with Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ogun State Command, for the registration of non-Nigerians. The fact that Ogun State provides a window into the West Africa sub-region contributes to the influx of non-Nigerians into our dear State. The initiative of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Ogun State Command, to have these immigrants registered is commendable, because it will provide reliable data and make monitoring their activities within our borders easier. Let me say that our Administration will support this exercise and other such initiatives that will contribute towards achieving a more secure Ogun State and the overall development of our dear State.
    iii. Commissioning of a joint security patrol with neighbouring States. While we are not unaware that the security situation of our neighbouring States could have attendant effects on our State, we have reached advanced stage with our neighbouring States, especially Lagos, towards setting up a joint security patrol of the highways linking our States. This will leave no hiding, nor transit and, or, escape route for these criminals.
    iv. Inauguration of Committee on Transport Unions: we have also set up a committee to coordinate the activities of all the road transport associations. This approach is deliberate and methodical to stem the breach of peace and the tide of violence which in most cases lead to wanton destruction of lives and property of which innocent people are always the victims.
12. All these are strategies. Let me assure all our people that they will begin to witness the concrete demonstration of our commitment towards ensuring a more secure and safe Ogun State in the next few days. We will continue to support all the security agencies in our dear State. It is my sincere belief that the inauguration of this Security Trust Fund will go a long way in providing solutions to the challenges facing the security apparatus in our dear State.
13. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is with a sense of duty that I inaugurate the new Ogun State Security Trust Fund Committee towards a more secure Ogun State and wholesome development of all the sectors of the economy of our dear State.
14. I thank you all for listening, and God bless.
    Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR
    Governor of Ogun State, Nigeria.
    Friday, 23rd August, 2019