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The Oyo State government will install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic locations across the state, a move towards putting the state under the ‘safe city project’.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi disclosed this on Monday while receiving the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, in his office.
According to Ajimobi, CCTV cameras would be installed at strategic locations deemed red-spot or crisis prone, for close monitoring of the entire state. Security operatives would have a direct link to the control base of the CCTV cameras, he said.
He stressed that the effort of his administration in investing in the security and safety of the state was not unconnected to its understanding of the importance of safety and security to development.
His words: “We came in 2011 and the state was regarded as an unsafe place. This made us come up with our hierarchy of development, drawing from man’s hierarchy of needs.
“We identified that the job of a government is firstly security and safety and the approach we embarked on has yielded results and has transformed the state to be known as one of the safest in the country.
“The state has joined the comity of states in the Safe City Project where technology is deployed to combat crime and ensure safety and security.
“We shall install CCTV cameras in red-spot and crisis prone areas across the state to alert security operatives at the central control unit for a prompt response. This measure will help our state more secure and peaceful.”
On the areas of flooding, the governor said the intervention and assistance received from the World Bank on the 2011 flood that ravaged the state, has helped the government in installing early flood warning signals which have helped prevent a recurrence.
Speaking earlier, the US Ambassador, Mr. Symington said his visit to the state was not just a courtesy call but a call for vision and wisdom.
He said: “My visit to Oyo State is not just a courtesy call but a call for vision and wisdom. My goal is to look at Nigeria from every and different points.
“The reason for Nigeria’s greatness is because of its togetherness. It is a very great nation. We will like to see how the people of this great nation and the people of America can work together to build a better future for the pacesetter state”.