By Ibrahim A. Jagaba

• Structure completed under 12 months

The Lagos State, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a unit set up over two decades ago to shore up the tasks of policing the state, has today, the 29th of December, 2021, unveiled a new addition to it arsenal in the form of a new office extension, towards ensuring an increasingly motivated and efficient workforce.

It is noteworthy, to mention that, the state of the art structure, delivered under twelve months of the assumption of office of the current Commander, CSP Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi, is happening twenty years, after the inauguration of the agency’s first headquarters.

Authoritative sources, confirm that, the edifice is the brainchild of the RRS’s current commander and it is to provide official lobbies for the agency’s standby men, who hitherto, perch around and under the tree due to non availability of space, the agency’s decoy team, the provost’s, an operational office, the Media team, the archives and suitably equipped toilet facilities, will all form part of it.

The commander, had at the assumption of office in December, 2020, observed and frowned at the manner at which standby operatives of the unit were traditionally seen sheltering under tree and neighboring structures, which he described as unacceptable, demoralizing and antithetical to effective and efficient service delivery, hence, the immediate reach out to the appropriate authorities of the state for a clear to maximize the space the new building now stands.

The edifice was officially commissioned by the deputy chief of staff to the Lagos state governor, Mr. Gboyega Soyannwo who represented the governor as the special guest of honour; Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, heads of a number of security and paramilitary agencies, including, the police, DSS, FRSC, LNSA and top government functionaries, amongst other dignitaries and guests too many to mention, were on hand to witness the commissioning.

The governor’s representative, had, while, relaying the governor’s keynote address, conveyed the governor’s goodwill message and commendations of the RRS commander’s towering contributions to Lagos state security, assuring him of the government’s continuous support to security agencies through the Lagos state security trust fund, LSSTF.

The Commander, while, delivering his welcome address, appreciated and acknowledged the Lagos State Government’s unmatched support and investments in security under Governor Sanwo-Olu, describing him as a committed and action oriented security champion. The Commander further said, RRS ranks high on the radar of beneficiaries from the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

A retrospective check through CSP Egbeyemi’s past stewardships, has revealed a consistency in his infrastructural and welfarist drive; thus, the current feat at the rapid response squad, only accentuates similar impacts he has had across previous duty posts he steered, that include Mosafejo, Aguda, Ilupeju, Sango Otta, all divisional headquarters and the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences (Enfocement Unit), where he has all left staggering legacies for his successors to measure up with

A tip of the iceberg is, while serving as divisional Police officer, Sango Otta in 2016; under six months, he initiated and executed the erection of a new administrative block up to the decking level, a Mosque, modern equiped Cell with Fans, Gate, Sentry Point, PCRC Hall, tiled Toilet facilities for staff and suspects and two Sheds, marked 1&2 for visitors; he also extended his olive branch to the Ijoko Police Outpost, where, he encouraged and convinced, the Oba in council, Oba Matemi to bankroll the rebuilding of the outpost, after it was burnt and razed owing to communal clashes.

As chairman, Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences, he, in his usual trademark, initiated and executed infrastructural projects, including a Mosque, Security Tower, Visitors Shed, and a Bunker Hall for the use of conventional security personnel and the paramilitary staffers.

A further check, on CSP Egbeyemi’s past performances on the job, again, reveals an array of gilt edged deliveries, only symbolistic of topnotch professional police chiefs; a signpost of his tall and excellent performances, is his unrivalled sacrifices during and post the Ill – fated #EndSars protests in Lagos, where he marshalled his men to thwart hoodlums attempted burn downs of terminals 1,2,3 of the Oshodi Transport Interchange, the first attempt at Mafoluku divisional headquarters, the Computer Village, Meiran divisional headquarters and the recovery of 13 Rifles and Cartons of ammunition looted by hoodlums from vandalized police formations across the state, especially the Isokoko division in Agege Local Government.

The RRS commander’s escapades also includes, the manner in which he again, relaunched his men back to work at the heat of the Ill – advised #EndSars protests aftermath; it is no gainsaying that, his efforts contributed immensely in buoying the confidence of police personnel in the state, who were at that time largely suffering from the down syndrome consequent upon the unprecedented attacks and losses of personnel to extra judicial killings by hoodlums.

While wondering on the conspicuous absence of an excellent performer like the current RRS commander from recent police promotions, I arrived at the conclusion that, if only, performing police officers in the mould of CSP Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi could be adequately rewarded and compensated in the form of timely and special promotions for their towering and exceptional sacrifices for the Police Force, then, we are sure to see an increasingly motivated and proud Nigerian police personnel on the increase in no distant future.