Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday launched a Security Trust Fund for the police.
This, by law, is to take care of the funding and maintenance of the police unit on continuous basis.
Fashola also on Wednesday, launched the restructured Rapid Response Squad, the combat unit of the State Police Command, with a warning to criminals to either drop their acts or leave the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, which attracted eminent Nigerians, including the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, captains of industry and political leaders among others, Fashola reiterated his call for a modified state police to reduce the rising crime wave in the country.
The governor, who noted that insecurity was an impediment to investments and development of any society, said the rising wave of crime in the state had robbed it of its vibrancy both in terms of investment opportunities and the social life of the people.
He said, �It is a national phenomenon, but it has become more acute in Lagos due to the population which is growing at an annual rate of about six per cent.�
The new RRS, he said, had been restructured into 34 new sectors and 211 new RRS points to make its presence felt across the state.
To boost the morale of the squad, he said government would procure 200 additional new vehicles, supply new sets of uniforms for the officers and men as well as install an ultra modern communication system to link the RRS to all police stations in the state.
He urged the Federal Government to make substantial and additional provision for the police in the 2008 budget.
The event which took place at the State House, Ikeja, saw corporate organisations donating over N300m.
Fashola said, �The constitutional responsibility for the police and other security agencies established by law still remains that of the Federal Government, I therefore call on Mr. President, the National Assembly and other relevant officials to make substantial additional provisions for the police in the 2008 budget.
�The regular payment of salary and allowances, renovation of police stations, purchase of modern equipment , medical and life insurance are all items which call for adequate funding. I also call for the amendment of the constitution to enable the states participate in the process of recruiting police officers.�
He said it was a distater if, � We continue to peg our national police force at 300,000 people to 140 million people because we can not make necessary budget provisions. It is in indeed an invitation to anarchy.�
Meanwhile, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has expressed fears over the rate at which men of the Nigerian Police Force are killed by men of the underworld.
In a media chat at the presidential lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, Okiro, who was on his way to Accra, commended the support of the Lagos State Government, which provided it with vehicles.
He however affirmed the deadline given to commercial bank operators on the directive to provide better bullion vans for the movement of cash or lose the services of policemen.
He said the ultimatum would expire on October 27, 2007, stressing that over 238 armed robbers had been killed within the last three months.