Governor Seyi Makinde’s achievements in security in the past year include a focus on providing support infrastructure for security operatives in the state. The government provided operational vehicles, walkie talkies, steel helmets, bulletproof jackets, combat boots and other security equipment.
During the year, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun was operationalised. The 1,500 member corps drafted to all 33 local government areas of Oyo State, received over 500 operational vehicles. Also in the last year, the Oyo State Government upgraded the Security Control Room and City Watch facilities at the Oyo State Security Trust Fund Headquarters, Onireke, Jericho, Ibadan. More recently, Oyo State took steps to secure entry and exit points by installing the Oyo State Security Joint Force Base at Mamu Village on the Oyo/Ogun States border.
Read on to learn more about how Governor Seyi Makinde’s achievements in security have aligned with the Road Map to Accelerated Development in Oyo State, 2019-2023. You will find his one year in office achievements in security here.
Review of Governor Seyi Makinde’s Achievements in Security for Two Years in Office
1. Enhance community participation in crime prevention under the neighbourhood watch programme.
The creation of Amotekun Corps is encouraging community participation in crime prevention. The corps members collaborate with the community on intelligence gathering and this bridges the gap in the security architecture in the state. In March 2021, Governor Seyi Makinde set up a Security Task Force which meets weekly. One of the recommendations was voluntary policing to include non-state actors to assist with intelligence gathering and the response from members of the public has been positive. Another recommendation was the inclusion of traditional rulers in the state on security matters and this is also geared towards crime prevention by intelligence gathering.
2. Ensure adequate mechanisms exist for ensuring safety of citizens and property.
In the past one year, the Oyo State Government has again, invested on security to ensure safety of citizens and property through the operationalisation of State Security Control Room:
- CCTV cameras were provided in strategic locations in the state which are linked to the Security Control Room.
- Communication equipment were provided to security agencies for easy communication from one location to the other;
- 615 toll-free number operationalised during the first year in office is connected to the State Security Control Room for immediate response to any security threat. This free toll has a wider coverage from the State Security Control Room. Messages are relayed to the Police Control Room for quick response to distress calls.
- Deployment of Army officers to the Oyo State Forest Reserves as Forward Operation Base to prevent encroachment into the state by bandits and hoodlums.
3. Advocacy across the state to seek reduction of the crime incidence rate.
The government carried out advocacy across the state to seek reduction of crime in the past one year in the following ways:
- Security meetings were held with traditional rulers across the state to carry the traditional rulers along on security of their domains;
- Regular security meetings with security commanders of all security agencies (Army, Airforce, Police, NSCDC, Immigration, Correctional Service, Customs, FRSC and DSS) are being held.
- Security meeting was also held with Nigeria Labour Congress, Caretaker Chairpersons of local government and local council development areas.
- Security meetings with state actors and non-state actors to enhance synergy among them were also held.
4. Establish an emergency response system.
The Oyo State Government operationalised the Citizens’ Emergency toll-free line (615) during the first year in office.
5. Setting up of security control room.
The Oyo State Government expanded and upgraded the Security Control Room and City Watch facilities at the Oyo State Security Trust Fund Headquarters, Onireke, Jericho, Ibadan.
6. Purchase of modern equipment and logistics for security agencies to fight crime.
The Governor Seyi Makinde led administration purchased the following in the past year:
- Brand new operational vehicles for the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ‘Operation Burst’ and Amotekun.
- A security post was established at the border between Oyo and Ogun States along Ijebu-Ibadan comprising:
- Beds for security personnel at the security post
- CCTV cameras
- Water tank
- Detachable Toilet
- Solar Energy
- VSAT
- Safe School initiative security cameras in secondary schools.
- Communication equipment on operational vehicles and personnel.
- Provision of security personnel at exit and entry points in the state.
7. Welfare support to the security agencies.
Adequate welfare support was given to security agencies in the following ways:
- Financial support (welfare/running cost)
- Provision of PMS to operational vehicles
- Monthly servicing of Patrol Vehicles
- Allowance for officers on patrol/pin down duties
- Increment of ration allowance and extension of the same to all security agencies
8. Willingness and ability of government to listen to, hear and respond to the people and address their expressed interest.
The Oyo State Government has established a robust feedback system that logs and escalates issues that affect the citizenry.
9. Ensuring of public vigilance at all levels.
10. Effective capacity building for security agencies (training and re-training).
The Oyo State Government has carried out effective capacity building for security agencies in Oyo State by:
- Regular Security Council Meeting with Security Agencies in the State;
- Provision of allowances to run security affairs in the state;
- Supplies of Intelligence Report
- Allocation of operational vehicles to security agencies;
- Installation of CCTV cameras in strategic locations in the state.
- Media enlightenment on crime and criminality;
- Provision of intervention for the End SARS victims on the Police as well as provision of fund for the Special Operations of the Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC and Airforce.
11. Provision of operational vehicles to security agencies.
The Oyo State Government has provided the following vehicles to security agencies in the past one year:
- Hilux Pick-Up Vans
- Kia Rio cars
- JAC Pick-Up Vans
- Mikano Pick up Vans
- Dial Auto Pick-Up Vans
12. Enhanced funding support to the security agencies.
The Oyo State Government provided funding support to the security agencies in the past one year by releasing monthly running cost/welfare allowances spread across the security personnel in the state.
13. Provision of toll-free line to the citizens to reach security agencies in period of emergencies.
The Citizens’ Emergency toll-free line (615) was operationalised during the first year in office and is still functional.
14. Effective provision of crime information.
The Oyo State Government ensured effective provision of crime information by continuously sensitising citizens about security issues in the state. The government also communicates data about crime rates to the citizens.