Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has declared that only an effective collaboration between the government and the private sector can lead to a crime-free society. He spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, during the presentation of five patrol vans donated to the government by MTN Foundation.
Government Cannot Solve All Problems Alone
Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, explained that pooling resources to fight crime is necessary because of the paucity of funds available to the police. He said: “Before now, the perception was that government was one big behemoth which was limitless in power, resources and ability. But it has begun to dawn on us all that not only are the resources of government limited, it is humanly impossible for it to solve all the monumental developmental issues that confront it.”
The governor noted that his administration has sought synergy with private organisations as a direct response to this reality. He said: “One of the first things we did when we came into office was to immediately begin to oil the rusty hinges of partnership between government and development partners.”
Oyo's Return to Development Radar
Ajimobi recounted that when his government began holding collaborative meetings with development partners, they expressed pleasant shock that Oyo, which had disappeared from the radar of development, was showing unmatchable enthusiasm to return to an embrace with the rest of the world. He affirmed his administration's commitment to partnership, stating: “We believe that it is in this that our state could move forward to its desired height.”
The governor described the presentation of the vans as one of the instances of an interface between government and development partners, adding that this would lead to the development of the state. He also recalled the establishment of the Security Trust Fund by his government some months ago, through which stakeholders and the government could pool resources together to combat crime.
MTN Foundation's Security Support Project
Hailing MTN for partnering the government in securing the state, Ajimobi said the donation would help his administration ensure a crime-free state. The Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, said the donation was part of the MTN Foundation’s Security Support Project, contributing to government efforts to improve security across the country.
Ugboma revealed that the organisation has provided 60 fully-equipped security patrol vehicles to 11 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She reiterated the foundation’s commitment to continuously invest in enriching the lives of Nigerians.
