Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos State new Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu has promised to manage the menace of traffic in the metropolis would be his top priority.
Odumosu disclosed this during a media parley with Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) on Monday in Ikeja.
“ I want to assure members of the public of my commitment in the fight against crime in Lagos. I am a believer in community policing. We are going to involve the citizens in the war against crime through community policing.
“We will keep our officers on their toes, because I am here to fight crime. I can’t be awake while my officers are sleeping. I won’t take it, my officers must be awake with me. We are going to improve on what our predecessors did, especially the outgoing AIG.
Odumosu, took over the helm of the Command from Zubairu Muazu, now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Counter Terrorism.
“We are going to improve on what our predecessors did especially the outgone AIG. I have been in Lagos and I have the wealth of experience. I am going to deplore that residual knowledge to the crime pattern in Lagos and frantically attack it.
“I am coming to the table with measures to improve the security in the state. The strategies are not meant to be disclosed on air, but I just want public to partner us because community policing is the theme and basis of our success.
“They are my officers and we have to work together. It is for them to do what they are paid to do. When I say on their toes, I mean they must work and to ensure that the fundamental human rights are guaranteed.”
The commissioner also said that he had enlightened the various Divisional Police Officers (DPO) and Area Commanders on the need to change strategy towards traffic management.
“We need to change our traffic management strategy such as the time of reporting for duty and the time of closing of the traffic officers.
“The closing time of any traffic junction will be 10.00 p.m. and in areas where the traffic congestion is very serious, the time would be extended to 12 midnight,” he said.