Passage of Security Trust Bill by the National Assembly will ease funding challenges facing Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

The Bill, which was initiated by the Inspector General of Police and has already passed second reading, is aimed at addressing funding challenges being faced by the police and other security agencies.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, made the assertion while receiving the Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, Adeoye Fadeyibi, who led management team on a courtesy visit to the police chief in Lagos.

By the time the bill is passed and its provisions become operational, there should be enough fund for the police to offset key operational cost such as payment for electricity services by Distribution Companies (DISCOs),” he said.

Imohimi also said the police were aware of the need to settle the financial obligations, saying it was not easy for the security agencies to meet all financial obligations due to paucity of funds.

According to him, the electricity bill for offices and operational facilities were being paid centrally, saying policemen and women were being enlightened on the need to pay for electricity supply to their private residences within the barracks.

Imohimi said leaders and senior officers in the barracks had been mobilising other residents to pay for electricity in the residential parts of the barracks, saying everybody must come to terms with the fact that electricity companies were being owned by private investors.

He said there was need to support the electricity companies by all to provide good services and make profit on their investment.

The police chief assured EKEDC management that his command was ready to deploy men as members of a special task force to protect electricity facilities and staff against vandalism, theft, violence attack and harassment.

Earlier, Fadeyibi congratulated Imohimi on his appointment as the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command.

The EKEDC managing director said that the visit to the police commissioner was based on the recognition of the important role being played by the police in providing a conducive environment for socio-economic activities in the country.

He said that EKEDC considered the police as major partner in the realisation of its business objectives.

According to him, no business can thrive under an atmosphere of insecurity.

Fadeyibi, however, appealed to the police chief to help fast-track payment of the huge outstanding electricity bill of many police formations within the company’s operational territory in Lagos.

He said the huge outstanding electricity bill being owed by the Police, Armed Forces, other security agencies and Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) had made it difficult for the company to meet the customers’ demands.