The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the safety of lives and property of its people. In all mega City-States such as ours, security is a challenge given the population size and the amount of economic activities.

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund was established in 2007 in response to the emerging security challenges. It was established to serve as a platform for collaboration between the government and the private sector to pool resources for the provision of security equipment and materials needed to enhance the crime fighting capacity of security agencies.

Today, a new Board under the Chairmanship of Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale has just been inaugurated to continue from where the previous Board stopped. Members of this new Board were carefully selected based on their passion, track record of service, accountability, transparency and dedication. I have no doubt that the new Board will hit the ground running given the strong foundation that has been laid.  You are expected to bring to bear your wide experience both in the public and private sector to deepen the goodwill which the Fund has enjoyed over the years. Accountability, prudency and transparency must be your watchwords in the management of the financial and non-financial donations that will be made to the Fund.

With the realization that security today, requires serious investment in technology, the Fund has to expand its reach and work to get more private sector support. I urge you to constantly engage the private sector and enlighten them on the need to be part of the collective effort to strengthen our security infrastructure. As you do this, you must render transparent account of the funding you receive to all stakeholders.

I wish to use this opportunity to reiterate the commitment of this administration to make our State safe and secure only for law abiding citizens, both individuals and corporate. We shall not relent in our efforts to ensure proper and adequate equipping of our security agencies to be able confront the security challenges we face.

I congratulate the Chairman and members of the newly inaugurated Board. I wish you success and also assure you of my support.

Thank you.

Akinwunmi Ambode

Governor of Lagos State,

Alausa.

15th December 2015