Being the Remarks by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State at the Passing Out Parade of Oyo Amotekun Forest Rangers on Monday, 21 October 2024
When we put together the Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development 2019-2023, we identified security as one of the four major pillars of our administration. And when we asked the good people of Oyo State for the opportunity to continue in 2023, we maintained this focus on security in our Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023-2027. Since assuming office in 2019, we have continued to invest heavily to secure Oyo State by supporting our security agencies to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively.
But we knew that more needed to be done to secure lives and properties. You will agree with me that one of the biggest achievements in security was the creation and operationalisation of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun by Governors of the South West States. Even though Oyo Amotekun only commenced operations in November 2020, we cannot imagine Oyo State without them. This is how important they have become to our security architecture over these years.
Let me use this opportunity to thank all Oyo Amotekun Corps members for the work they have been doing to secure our dear State so we can sleep with our eyes closed.
So, we recognised that there was more to be done to address kidnapping, banditry and other illegal activities in our forests, and this is what led to the initiative to establish Forest Rangers as a sub unit of Oyo Amotekun in 25 Local Government Areas with about 480 recruits out of 562 passing out today.
These Forest Rangers are to work in forests within their Local Government Areas alongside other stakeholders such as hunters and other community-based groups. Their task is to secure our farmers and other people engaged in economic activities. They are also to preserve our natural resources in our forests to prevent illegal activities.
These additional Oyo Amotekun recruits passing out today will increase the numbers of Oyo Amotekun to 2,500 corps members. This is nearly double the number of Amotekun corps members in the four other South West States combined.
Let me once again restate our commitment to providing all that is required to ensure that Oyo Amotekun can deliver on their mandate. We will continue to provide the equipment needed and monthly operational grants to ensure smooth operations. We have also taken out group life insurance on the existing 2,000 operatives and we will ensure that the new recruits passing out today are also brought under that cover.
I congratulate the new recruits passing out today. You started with many others so to get to this point today is a testament to your hard work and successful demonstration of your expertise. We will ensure that your new assignments are not hardship postings by supporting you with all you need to succeed. We also expect that you will remain dedicated to your duties and ensure that you follow the laid down guidelines and procedures of Oyo Amotekun which you have received during your training. You are joining a disciplined and focused security agency and it is expected that you will conduct yourselves accordingly.
And just before I conclude my remarks, let me quickly address an issue which was brought to my attention in my newsletter. I know there is a department in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources that have Foresters. Instead of seeing the Amotekun Forest Rangers as rivals, I want them to be seen as complementary.
So, once again, I thank Oyo Amotekun Corps members and their leaders for their sacrifices to ensure that Oyo State remains one of the safest States in Nigeria. Like I always say, we would have made no meaningful progress as an administration without the relative peace that we have in our dear State.
Thank you and all and may God bless you.
Seyi Makinde
21 October 2024