As part of contributions of Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal led administration to promotion of a saner society where laws and order are strictly adhered to and all social vices are replaced with lawful activities; Ikoyi-Obalende Street Warden Taskforce Initiative was formally inaugurated among other laudable objectives to ensure continuous safety of residents; business owners; and, commuters within the Local Council.
The Executive Chairman, Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal while expatiating on the objectives of the Taskforce informed that this initiative will not be in conflict with the duties of existing security agencies and apparatus but rather a collaborative effort to complement the existing security outfits especially at the grassroots level towards achieving a peaceful and crime free Ikoyi–Obalende.
He explained that the bill that established this initiative was passed early this year when he was rounding up his first tenure and had it passed into law by the Legislative Council.
The Law among other aims and objectives empowers the Street Wardens to have a uniform presence in all the nooks and crannies of the LCDA in order to curb illegal street parking; illegal street trading; illegal waste disposal; and, provide 24 hours community patrol/surveillance thereby acting as first responders to incidents within the council as well as engaging residents on other salient issues affecting their wellbeing as citizens.
The Executive Chairman added that the 1st Phase of Street Warden Taskforce Initiative will create job opportunities for 50 youths thereby reducing drastically unemployment rate in the Local Council.
According to the Council Mayor, the Street Wardens will recommend erring offenders for arrest by relevant security agency or outfit.
Efforts are in top gear to equip all personnel with CUG lines for. easy communication and prompt actions. Also, Bicycles will be available to reach out to lanes and paths where patrol vehicles cannot reach.
Further, he informed that personnel will be reasonably remunerated to avoid fallen prey to bribery and extortion of the public.
Hon. Fuad while expatiating that this initiative is not entirely new to the Local Government system but rather a modern way of repackaging the old ‘Town Council’ Taskforce declared that his office is wide open to accommodate the Street Wardens requests from time to time to make them perform optimally especially as the Yuletide season is fast approaching.
According to him, Ikoyi-Obalende must be safe for people before, during and after the holidays. He thus implored the personnel to add all sense of professionalism to their job.
The ever indefatigable Chairman of the most prestigious Local Council in Sub-Saharan Africa reiterated that apart from a mapped out periodic trainings for Street Warden personnel; the Local Government administration has equipped the task force with all necessary working apparatuses such as: uniforms; patrol vehicles; walkie talkie among other things to ensure efficient service delivery.
On this note, he informed that there will be open lines that the public will use to lodge complaints, comments, commendations and recommendations. He therefore implored all residents, business owners and the general public to cooperate with the government by adhering strictly to the positive changes which this initiative tend to bring and as well assist his administration’s efforts in making Ikoyi-Obalende the safest place to live in.
