Lagos Cautions Residents Against False Security Alarm

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

By Ayo Balogun

Residents of Lagos State have again been cautioned not to abuse the public security and social amenities, provided by the government as well as desist from raising false alarms.

Governor Babatunde Fashola while speaking as a Special Guest of Honour at the Nigerian Hospitality Workshop (NIHOSSEW 2014), advised the residents to be very security conscious, therefore familiarize themselves with the head of securities in their immediate environments, citing for example, every resident must have the contact means to the DPO of his area.

Fashola who spoke through his Special Adviser on Security, Major (rtd) Babatunde Panox, noted that the security challenges currently facing the country, were multi – dimensional, directed a “blanket security” for every resident of the State, be it in the executive, legislative, judiciary arms of government; the well to do and the common man.

The Governor observed that for the Police to be on top of their job, the Force must provide regular security workshop and urged the State Police Command and other security agencies to maintain the status quo – level of security being witnessed at present in the State.

Similarly, Governor Fashola held that the security operatives must be well and adequately equipped to perform efficiently, saying this informed the idea of the Lagos State Security Fund, so as to support the security agencies, especially with respect to getting and supplying modern equipment to operate.

The State’s Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Kayode Aderanti, in a paper titled: Solutions on Security Challenges in Hotels and Catering Organizations, said hospitality business was risky. He therefore stated failure to provide a safe and secured environment would cost the owner of the hotel good image and reputation.

Commissioner Aderanti called on the country’s hotel operators to provide regular security training to as much as possible of their staffers, so that they could assist in identifying and properly responding to potential and actual security related incidents.

He also advised the hotel owners and operators to always identify the probability and severity of risk for their owned or managed property, adding this could be achieved on an internal security department or outside security consultants.

The Commissioner also recommended integrated security program which encompasses both manpower and physical security systems designed to protect hotel assets.

The one-day workshop which was organized by the Nigerian Hospitality Security Network in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force, was attended by security Chiefs, hotel operators and hospitality and security consultants as well as senior executives.