…To begin second phase of SAfER in March
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo state government has concluded plans to repair and refurbished its seven Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to aid security of lives and property across the state.
The government also said it has decided to roll out the second phase of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) plans to sustain the positive gains of the first phase.
The decision forms part of resolves reached at the weekly State Executive Council meeting held at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan on Thursday.
Briefing the Press after the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade said the state government was encouraged after a review of the first phase showed the positive impact the scheme had in the people.
He added that, the need to sustain the effort, which according to him, has helped people maintain balance owing in the face of subsidy removal buoyed the decision to begin the next phase.
Corroborating the remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Musbau Babatunde said although the amount of money to be rolled out in the second phase has not been decided, the governor has directed the Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, who doubles as the Chairman, SAfER Committee and the Commissioner for Finance to carry out an indept review and come up with a plan for the next phase.
Babatunde assures that the outcome of effort of the duo will give a direction to which the next phase would go in terms of amount to disburse and modalities to be adopted.
He however assured that, whatever the outcome, it will be in the best interest of the people of the state, adding that Governor Seyi Makinde had been at the forefront of impacting positively on the residents.
Also speaking on the refurbishment of the APCs, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, said the state government is not relenting in its effort to beef up the security architecture in the state, which necessitated the award of the contract of the armored personnel carriers of the State Police Command.
He said the government is making arrangements to pay the N100million mobilisation fees to the contract with the balance of about N84million to be paid at the completion and delivery of the project.
Still on Police affairs, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Babatunde Musibau, further disclosed the readiness of the state to support the State Command in hosting the 14th biannual Police Games in the state.
According to Prof. Babatunde, the state would give support in the area of transportation, sporting facilities, and health, among others.
He added that Governor Makinde and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun will jointly unveil the Games Mascot at an event to signal the commencement of the 10days sporting activities in the state.
