As part of efforts to tackle the challenges of growing insecurity in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, the Chairmen of the six Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in Ikorodu Division have declared zero tolerance on insecurity, mandating all private security agents to register with the local council under which they operate.

In a communiqué jointly signed by all the six local council chairman and security agencies after a security meeting held on Tuesday, they promised to commit more resources to the security of lives and properties of their people, working with the police, military, all the paramilitary establishment, as well as all the lawful and constitutional corporate bodies, registered entities, traditional institutions, political leaders, among others.

The meeting was conveyed following the gruesome killing of a 22-year old lady who reportedly boarded BRT bus from Lekki recently.

The local council chairmen in the meeting are Hon. Wasiu Adeshina (Ikorodu Local Government); Hon. Sulaimon Lanre (Ikorodu West LCDA); Hon. Adeola Banjo (Ikorodu North LCDA); Bldr. Olusesan Daini (Igbogbo Bayeku LCDA) Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba (Ijede LCDA); and Hon. Wasiu Agoro (Imota LCDA).

They held a security meeting with the six DPOs in Ikorodu Division, the Civil Defence, NDLEA, LNSC and DSS.

The communiqué read:

1. In response to the growing security challenges in almost all parts of Lagos State and our country, Nigeria, and as a proactive measure to bolster the security architecture of the Ikorodu Division in Lagos State, we the Chairmen of the Local Government Area and the Local Council Development Areas in the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria, in consonance with our legal and constitutional duties and responsibilities, issue this press statement to inform the general public about the security matters in our Division.

2. Whilst we shall continue to work and remain committed to the security of lives and properties in our geographical jurisdictions in the Ikorodu Division by working with all the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian military, all the paramilitary establishment, as well as all the lawful and constitutional corporate bodies, registered entities, traditional institutions, political leaders, among others, we shall neither abdicate nor abandon our prerogatives and responsibilities of making sure that the good and patriotic people of Ikorodu Division are not left unprotected from any form of unconstitutional and/or unlawful activities contrived not only to whittle down the efforts of the government but also to make the Ikorodu Division people undeservedly susceptible and vulnerable to all manners of vicious elements and/or impostors and/or entities without any credible records on security matters and/or bodies with records and antecedents of working against the success of the government.

3. To that extent and in consonance with the extant provisions in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), to wit:
Section 14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:
(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;
(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and
(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
We, the Chairmen of the Local Government Area and the Local Council Development Areas in the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State in Nigeria, hereby state as follows:

A. All private security outfits (registered or yet to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission) and/or Vigilantes and/or any other entities, however so described, with interest in security in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria must be registered and/or officially documented with their local government and the local council development areas where they intend to operate.

B. In registering, all private security outfits (registered or yet to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission) and/or Vigilantes and/or any other entity, however so described with interest in security in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria, must submit the profiles (Resumes) of all their directors and personnel as well as their equipment (arms and ammunitions) to the local government and the local council development areas where they intend to operate for onward submission to the Nigeria Police Force and other government-established security outfits.

C. The Chairmen of the Local Government Area and the Local Council Development Areas in the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State in Nigeria shall only be willing and ready to work with private security outfits (registered or yet to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission) and/or Vigilantes and/or any other entity however described with interest in security in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State Government that have satisfied the above requirements.

5. It is directed that all private security outfits (registered or yet to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission) and/or Vigilantes and/or any other entities, however so described, with interest in security in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria that have not satisfied the requirements above are prohibited from carrying out any form of activities or launching or inauguration, howsoever called in any part of the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria. And any form of breach shall be deemed not only as unlawful but as a breach of the relevant sections of the extant Nigerian Constitution and the Criminal Code.

6. Suffice it to express, at this juncture, our collective gratitude for the efforts and cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force, the military, NSCDC (Civil Defence), and all the other security establishments that have been working with us in the Ikorodu Division for ensuring peace, order and security of lives and properties in the division; we urge you to keep up your good works.

7. In conclusion, we once again assure all the good and patriotic people of Ikorodu Division in Lagos State of our all-round services for the growth and development of the division and its people and security of lives and properties.
Thank you all.