LAGOS-The Lagos State Police Command has said that it had deployed enough policemen to provide adequate security during Wednesday’s National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also said it had deployed its officers to assist in providing security during the event.
Reports state that the convention, billed for Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, will elect the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 election.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) told newsmen that “we have enough men on ground who are adequately kitted for the primary.
“We know the responsibility for the process to be credible is rested on us and we are aware of it.
“We are willing, as usual, to discharge that responsibility to the best of our ability just like we have been doing in all other elections.
“We know tomorrow’s election will be a bigger one and we expect more people to come into the state,’’ he told newsmen without disclosing the number of police personnel deployed.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, was around yesterday to see things for himself and he will be moving around today to monitor the situation again.
“Arrangements have been put in place like traffic control, security, surveillance, sniffer dogs and every other thing needed to ensure a hitch-free convention.
“We are deploying our full arsenal to make sure that the election is credible,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Chibuzo Mefor, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command of NSCDC, said the corps had deployed 500 officers to collaborate with the police to provide security.
He said the officers were already on ground from yesterday and would keep vigil at the venue ahead of the convention.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday said it would deploy over 100 officers and 15 patrol vehicles for APC National Convention in Lagos.
Reports state that the convention, slated for today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, will produce the party’s presidential candidate for 2015 election.
Mr Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos Sector Commander of the corps, told newsmen that arrangement had been put in place to ensure free-flow of vehicular movement in the state.
“Regarding the convention that is coming tomorrow, we have noted the venue where the convention is going to take place.
“We have identified the critical traffic bottleneck, especially the junctions that link those areas. Ours is to ensure free-flow of traffic within those axes.
“But we will not allow Lagosians to be trapped in traffic because of any convention.
“For the locations we have mapped out, we will deploy more than 100 officers to them.
“And we are going to deploy nothing less than 15 vehicles, including our tow trucks,’’ he said.
The FRSC boss said that the command would, however, not move close to the venue for fear of being labelled partisan.
“We are going to restrict ourselves to our core mandate of ensuring free-flow of traffic these areas,’’ he added.
According to him, the Lagos command of the corps can handle traffic that may be occasioned by the convention.
On the week-long Redeem Christian Church of God’s (RCCG) convention that started on December 8, Omeje said the corps had planned for two weeks to ensure free-flow of traffic.
He said the zone had come up with operational strategies involving a combined team of personnel from Lagos, Mowe, Sagamu and Ogere commands to man all routes.
The commander said that senior officers were going to be involved because of the crucial nature of the event too.
He added that the command had been test-running its machinery in preparation for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year seasons.
