Governor Babatunde Fashola is one of the most proactive governors in the country and it is for this very reason why he must step up his efforts to ensure that Boko Haram cannot see a foothold in Lagos.
There are growing concerns amongst citizens that there is a conspiracy against Nigeria and many believe that for that conspiracy to take shape, a state like Lagos cannot be left out of the equation. This is why the USA reported that a terror attack is likely to happen in Lagos soon.
The Governor’s efforts at reassuring Lagosians that the security of their lives and properties is his top priority is beyond rhetoric, he has also continued to be one of the biggest financiers of the Lagos State Police Command in conjunction with Socially Responsible Corporate citizens and individuals who routinely contribute to the Security Trust Fund set up in the state to provide materials, equipment and vehicles for our law enforcement officers.
However it may be time for Governor Fashola to think further outside the box. One of the biggest fears I have always had as a Lagosian is the impunity at which armed robbers strike and how completely easy it is for them to act. Only recently we heard the tale of how a lady was robbed and raped by four criminals under a bridge in Ikeja. Thankfully, the fates were on the side of that young woman and the police were able to apprehend the suspects.
But many are not always as lucky. The fact that as I drive in traffic, I am routinely confronted and overwhelmed by abokis or mallams and other young Nigerians who are selling chewing gum, gala, drinks and other wares is very scary to me. What stops an armed robber from disguising as a trader and coming to rob me in full disguise, with a pistol or knife concealed underneath his wares.
Even scarier, what happens if and/or when Boko Haram realizes that this is a vast recruitment market and we have a traffic jam somewhere and a bomber decides to conceal an Improvised Explosive Devise in his wares. The carnage will be unparalelled. Governor Fashola needs to rid our streets of these hawkers in a more aggressive manner. They need to either be deported or rehabilitated. They need to be given training on technical skills that they can use to etch a living. Maybe they can be rounded up and compensated. But their position is dangerous, should evil elements decide to capitalize on the fact that everyone thinks they are harmless.
You will recall that recently an army general said an orange seller was caught in the North with N600 million worth of bank activity in three months. These guys know about covert ops and the sooner we nip opportunities for that expression in the South, the safer we all are.
Another source of huge security concerns are the shopping malls in Lagos. Ikeja mall has a great security presence around it and some would attribute that to its rumoured part ownership by a top APC chief. However the Lekki mall needs to receive the same security treatment and so does Adeniran Ogunsanya. We need heightened security in these places. The Governor should please act on these recommendations so as not to find ourselves in a snare in the near future.
The BRT buses should have a security personnel equipped with metal detectors and all passengers should be screened before embarking on the bus. Also there should be signs that state CLEARLY that no unattended bags, or packages are to be left on buses. Should that ever be the case, the security personnel would follow a protocol of immediately evacuating the bus and calling the bomb squad.
Governor Fashola is one of the most remarkable public servants Nigeria has ever produced and for that reason I am rest assured that Lagos will take proactive security measures to ensure that the threat of a terror attack in Lagos is reduced significantly.