By Adesakin Adefemi
The Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, on Tuesday donated 300 motorcycles to conventional and non-conventional security agencies in the state to enhance patrols and response time in rural communities.
The handover took place at the Osun Command headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo. Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan received the motorcycles on behalf of the benefiting organisations and described the donation as timely and impactful for statewide security operations.
Speaking at the ceremony, CP Gotan commended President Bola Tinubu for granting financial autonomy to local government areas across the country. He said the autonomy made the intervention possible and stressed that security is a collective responsibility requiring collaboration from all stakeholders.
Gotan noted that the motorcycles would improve operational capacity, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, and would help increase patrol coverage and reduce response time. He assured ALGON that the motorcycles would be deployed judiciously and used for their intended purpose.
Osun ALGON chairman Samuel Idowu said the 30 local government areas in the state funded the purchase because of the financial autonomy they now enjoy. He stated that the gesture shows that empowered local governments can serve as strong pillars in Nigeria’s security and development architecture.
Idowu explained the distribution formula for the 300 motorcycles. Each of the 30 LGAs will receive 10 motorcycles. The Police in each LGA will get 3, the Department of State Services 2, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps 2, Vigilante groups 1, Hunters 1, and local or community security outfits 1.
According to Idowu, the motorcycles are meant to enhance mobility and enable security personnel to access difficult terrains. He said the initiative targets stronger community policing and is aimed at ensuring no part of Osun State is left vulnerable.
The donation comes amid an ongoing political dispute between the Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress over the status of the council chairmen. The state government maintains that the APC-elected LG chairmen are occupying the councils illegally, while the APC insists its officers have a valid tenure and have approached the court to challenge the conduct of new elections.
CP Gotan thanked ALGON for what he called a thoughtful intervention and restated the commitment of the Police Force to secure lives and property. Idowu urged all benefiting agencies to maintain the motorcycles properly so they serve the purpose for which they were provided.
