Nine years after it was razed during a clash between soldiers and policemen, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN on Tuesday formally handed over the new Area C Police Command Complex, stressing the need for government at the centre to pay more attention to law enforcement agents, if the nation is serious about protecting democracy and developing business.
Renaming the ultra modern building, Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu House in honour of the first indigenous Commandant of the Nigeria Police College, Fashola who spoke at the Western Avenue location of the new Area Command building that replaced the one that was gutted by fire in October 2005, added that it is only in a secure environment that investment will settle and also thrive.
The Governor noted that if the present administration in the State had continued to maintain that the issue of police was a responsibility for the Federal Government and not the State, the building would still have remained the way it was when it was gutted by fire.
While explaining the rationale behind the design of the new Police Area Command Office, the Governor said what was there before were bequeathed by the colonial government adding that the colonial masters have been slowly and consistently removing them in their own country.
The Governor who recalled that he has had cause to handle legal cases for clients in the past at the Area C Command, said it has now been designed bearing in mind that it is serving as both an Area Command and a Divisional Police Office.
Listing the additional features that have been provided in the new building, the Governor said there are provisions for male and female cells as well as a data room where suspects are put on the wall for their heights to be measured and photographs taken.
In his message of goodwill, the Inspector General of Police who was represented by Deputy Inspector General, Logistics and Supply, Mamman Tsafe reiterated an earlier statement that if Nigeria could boast of more of the types of Governor Fashola, the business of security would have been more effective in Nigeria.
Noting that the building being handed over ranks among the best Police facilities he had seen in various parts of the world to which he has traveled, DIG Tsafe charged the officers and men to draw inspiration from the depth of the gesture of the new office and other forms of support from the State Government to improve their performance. He also appealed to the State Governor that whilst it deeply appreciates the several gestures of the state, the Police would appreciate his intervention in the Police Barracks in Surulere.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr Kayode Aderanti in his address described the new structure as being of international standard and one that should be a great motivation for the officers and men of the Lagos Police Command. He thanked the Governor for deeming it fit to construct the edifice which would without doubt make the job of the personnel who will be privileged to work there easier.
