NationalMirror: Lagos Tightens Security Over Bomb Scare - Fashola issues ultimatum on abandoned vehicles

 

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has issued a 14-day ultimatum to civil servants to remove all abandoned vehicles within the Alausa Secretariat and other government offices. The move is to strengthen the security around the state secretariat and forestall bombing. The state government has also introduced new letter codes on official number plates and will soon commence the reregistration of all vehicles attached to ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, to prevent unknown vehicles from entering the secretariat. Security reports by the police revealed that the incessant parking and abandoned vehicles at the old and new Alausa secretariats posed serious security threats.

The Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, therefore, issued a circular giving workers 14-day ultimatum to remove all abandoned vehicles from the secretariats to avert breach of security. He added that failure to comply with the directive would result in the vehicles being confisticated. The state government also warned against the indiscriminate use of government official plate numbers by the private car owners, stressing that the deceitful act amounts to security threat.

The circular reads: “In consideration of the recent spate of bombing and threats to public infrastructure, there is need to re-emphasise and sensitise public servants on security consciousness. “Suffice to say that, the report emanating from the routine patrol of the Old and New Secretariats by Rapid Response Squad, RRS, has indicated that some members of staff, their relations and friends have cultivated the habit of turning the secretariat into a garage for parking their vehicles, particularly during the weekends and public holidays. All these, if unchecked may serve as safe havens for evil-minded people.

“In the same vein, it has also been reported that the categories of vehicles mentioned below have been found to be abandoned at various car parks within the Old and New Secretariats. These vehicles constitute public nuisance within the environment. “Also, there are privately owned vehicles that carry Lagos State Government official plate numbers. This is indeed a serious criminal act. It is disheartening that some public servants engage in this act which causes embarrassment to the state government when such vehicles are involved in traffic offences.

“Faulty government vehicles, some with government plate numbers and some without, but with the inscription of names of ministries, parastatals and departments that own them are usually found abandoned within the Old and New Secretariat complexes. Consequent upon the foregoing, it is hereby reemphasied that officers should desist from affixing government plate numbers to their private vehicles.

“Furthermore, MDAs are hereby advised to repair faulty vehicles or forward the list of such vehicles to the Public Service Office for consideration for boarding or assigning them to other agencies that can properly maintain them and put them to beneficial use. “Abandonment of unserviceable vehicles within secretariat, either during the week days, weekends or public holidays will no longer be tolerated. MDAs and individuals are hereby given a 14-day ultimatum to remove all abandoned unserviceable vehicles from the secretariat complex.

At the end of this ultimatum, such vehicles will be towed away by security personnel. “With the cooperation, understanding and assistance of all and sundry in the implementation of the above security measures along with the already existing ones and those that would be introduced from time to time as situation arises, lives and property within the Old and New Secretariats will be more protected and guaranteed.”