The need for the nation’s security and safety strategies to be anchored on appropriate technology for efficient and effective crime fighting has been stressed.

According to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, effective crime fighting in this age must be technology and innovation-driven.

Ambode says in order to improve the security support for the people, government will continue to partner with Federal Government in ensuring peace and security across the nation, reiterating that Lagos will remain committed to supporting security agencies in the State within the limits of its resources.

He said in the past, the State was faced with security challenges that tasked its capacity, especially in tracking criminal activities in the creeks and waterfront communities, revealing that the administration has evolved proactive strategies, with the support of local communities and security agencies, to make Lagos a “No Go” area for inter-State or across boundary marauders, and individual or groups with criminal intent.

The Governor said two months ago, the State commenced a massive awareness campaign tagged Lagos State Kicks Against Drug Abuse as a response to the dangerous dimension drug abuse has taken and its implication on security as well as the safety of lives and property.

Ambode who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello at the Federal and States Security Administrators’ Meeting, informing the participants that the decision to host the meeting was a testament to the high premium the present administration places on issues of security and safety of residents.

He hinted that the meeting comes at a crucial time when political activities are gathering momentum towards the 2019 general election, hoping that the meeting would proffer strategies that will effectively address the peculiar security challenges that could mar the electoral process.

Ambode charged participants to deliberate on evolving effective strategies that would enhance the security and safety of the people especially in the deployment of personnel and logistics.

Earlier in her address, the Chairman of the Federal and State Security Administrators Meeting, Amina Shamaki said the recent spate of oil and gas facilities vandalisation, illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft was putting the Nigerian economy in a dire situation and possessed the potential of plunging the country into further financial crises.

She said following Nigeria’s recent exit from recession, the economy remains fragile; therefore, there was a need for everyone to collectively combat infractions of oil theft and pipeline vandalism as a matter of urgent national priority.

The Chairman expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government for accepting to host the meeting in spite of the short notice and called on other States to emulate the goodwill and support of the Ambode-led administration.