Hyacinth Chinweuba
The passage of Security Trust Fund bill currently before the national assembly is expected to ease some of the funding challenges being faced by the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.
Making this declaration was the commissioner of Police Lagos State, Mr. Imohimi Oluwole Edgal while receiving the MD/CEO and other top management team members of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, who paid him a courtesy visit in his Ikeja, Lagos office recently.
While commenting on the huge electricity bill being owed Eko Disco by the Lagos state command of the Police, Mr. Edgal said the police was aware of the need to settle its financial obligations to organisations providing services to it but sometimes it might not be easy to meet all financial obligations due to paucity of funds.
Speaking further, Mr. Edgal said while electricity bill for offices and operational facilities were being paid centrally, policemen and women were being enlightened on the need to pay for electricity supply in their private residences within the barracks adding that everybody must come to terms with the fact that the electricity companies are now owned by private investors who must be supported by all to provide good services and make profit on their investment. It was for this reason, he said, that leaders and senior officers in the barracks have been mobilising other residents to pay for electricity in the residential parts of the barracks.
According to the police chief, the security trust fund bill, which was initiated by the Inspector General of Police and has already passed second reading, is aimed at addressing funding challenges being faced by the police and other security agencies. He said by the time the bill is passed and its provisions become operational, there should be enough fund for the police to offset key operational cost such as payment for electrical services by electricity distribution companies.
While pledging the co-operation and assistance of the police to Eko Disco in preventing vandalism and theft of its facilities, the Lagos police commissioner said his command would be ready to deploy men as members of a special task force to protect electricity facilities and staff against vandalism, theft, violence attack and harassment.
Speaking earlier, the MD/CEO of Eko Disco, Engr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, congratulated Mr. Edgal on his appointment as the commissioner of police, Lagos state. He said the visit to the police commissioner was based on the recognition of the important role being played by the police in providing a conducive environment for socio-economic activities in the country. Engr. Fadeyibi further added that his company considered the police as a major partner in the realisation of its business objectives since no business can thrive under an atmosphere of insecurity.
The Eko Disco MD/CEO also appealed to the police commissioner to help fast-track payment of the huge outstanding electricity bill of many police formations within the company’s operational territory in Lagos state. Engr. Fadeyibi said the huge outstanding electricity bill being owed by the police, armed forces, other security agencies and MDAs has made it difficult for the company to meet all the demands of scustomers