Kidnappings: Osun is donating 20 APCs to Western Nigeria Security – Gov. Oyetola

The Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday, declared that the state would be supporting the newly-established Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) with 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers to aid its operation.

We reported that the presidency recently gave a nod to proposed security arrangement by governors of the South-Western states to curb the spate of kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities in the region.

Oyetola disclosed this in a statement he personally signed to congratulate people of the state on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the creation of the state, reiterating his government’s commitment to deliver on campaign promises.

“The state is partnering with other South West states to strengthen security in the region, and soon, the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) will commence operation to fortify the area.

“We are contributing 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers and other ideas and logistics to further guarantee the security of lives and property of the citizens in our state and region,” the governor said.

Oyetola added that his administration’s policies roadmap is being driven by the preponderant aspiration and yearnings of the people in the state, which, according to him, was validated by the United Kingdom Department for International Development’s (DFID) funded Citizens’ Needs Assessment exercise in Osun.

He explained that every responsible government must make the people’s demands the basis of its policies and implementation.

“We promised to pay full salary to all our workers, we have not defaulted. We promised to pay our pensioners; we have also not defaulted. We promised to rebuild, remodel and, in some cases, carry out total rehabilitation of existing school buildings in series 4 classrooms, 5 classrooms, 6 classrooms, 8 classrooms, 10, 15 and 20 classrooms at a maximum of 50 pupils/students per class, to cater for communities at 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 750 pupils per school.

“We have commissioned completed projects in that regard in Telemu and Morinu, in Olaoluwa and Iwo local government areas respectively. Our work as a government so far points to one fact: better days ahead.

“We have also reconstructed and equipped 11 fire service stations, with 14 fire fighting vehicles to give confidence to the fire fighters in the discharge of their life and property saving duties. We did that because security is meaningless without safety.”