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.