Nation
Fashola Launches Helicopters For Aerial War Against Crime
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has stepped up the war against crime in Lagos State with the launching on Monday morning of two Bell-412 EP helicopters. At the launching of the helicopters a multi-faceted type used in crime fighting, fire out break and emergency services among others, Fashola said it was a very expensive venture, but that it is a primary responsibility of government to curb crime.
According to the governor, section 14(26) of the 1999 constitution gave the state government the power to provide security to its citizens, saying that this was why the state recently concluded the Security Trust Fund to provide money to fight crime.
He said that all his efforts so far has delivered 79.9 percent reduction in violent crime, adding that the state is recording successes in apprehending and bringing criminals to justice.
“In spite of all, this we will never be satisfied. We knows that there is no crime free society, but we understand that crime and crime pattern are very fluid and we are resolved to stay ahead of the competition”, Fashola said.
His government, he said, will outspend, outrun, and overwhelm the competition hard criminals offer, saying “we want to be the first to arrive when emergency occurs with all the capacity to save lives”
Fashola described the acquisition of the helicopters as another success of his administration saying they will not only complement the efforts of the police and security operatives on land but also enhance the provision of emergency services, search and rescue operation, surveillance and ambulance service.
“Our choice of Bell 412 EP was informed by its multi-faceted platform which allows it to be utility in several functions such as paramilitary, civil and utility roles. These particular helicopters are specially and uniquely configured to be used in fire fighting, emergency services, search and rescue air ambulance and air surveillance roles”, the governor said.
He appealed to residents of the state to continue to discharge their own side of the social contract saying that he was proud that Lagos state led the way again as the first state to provide this kind of unique social service in the country.
The prevention and management of the helicopters, he said would be within the preview of the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) in collaboration with Caverton Helicopters to ensure that operation costs were met and that all safety and regulatory issues are stipulated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, praised the government for the venture, saying that the helicopters will help the police to ensure a crime-free society and promised that his men will make good use of them.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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