Ambode receives 10 new patrol vehicles from MTN

Ten brand new Hilux patrol vehicles donated by the MTN Foundation were on Thursday received by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on behalf of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

The donation is to further boost the operations of the LSSTF established by the state government as a special purpose vehicle to tackle insecurity and threat to lives and property in Nigeria’s commercial city.

The fund run by a board made up of private sector operators and officials of government as members receives donations in cash and kind from government, corporate bodies and general public.

Governor Ambode, who received the MTN Foundation delegation led by Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, its chairman, urged corporate organisations in the country to key into the efforts of government at all levels to secure the lives and property of citizens, just as he said that development and businesses could only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere.

Ambode said security, being an everyday issue, should not be left only for government, and that there was a strong need for the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to invest in security for greater economic prosperity.

According to Ambode, the primary purpose of government is to protect lives and property and take care of people’s welfare, but that it was not out of place to encourage the private sector to support government so as also to protect their investments and businesses.

“A safer Lagos is a more productive Lagos and this administration is not mincing words in that area. We are running this administration on a tripod. The first is security of lives and property. Once we are able to do that, the environment becomes more visible for job opportunities to take place because you too will do your work and employ our people. Those job opportunities and the productivity that we have gotten would give us the taxes we need to improve on our infrastructure,” he said.

Adelusi Adeluyi said the donation of the security equipment was a testimony of the commitment of MTN to partner with government to ensure the protection of lives and property.

Adeluyi, who acknowledged that Lagos had always been blessed with visionary leaders who work tirelessly to get things done, said there was no doubt about the fact that the state always set the pace when it comes to driving the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

“That is why we are here to indicate to you that MTN, through the MTN Foundation, is ready to partner with you to make Lagos a greater State and to support your efforts,” Adeluyi said.