Edo govt approves N120m to buy armoured vehicles for police

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 12.02.2008

The Edo State gov- ernment has ap- proved N120 million for the procurement of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the state police command. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Calus Enoma, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the resolutions reached at the end of the state executive council meeting held at the Government House, Benin City.

Enoma said the gesture was a response to the request of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr.Mike Okiro, to all states to assist the police with armoured vehicles and other crime fighting equipment.

According to him, the Professor Oserheimen Osunbor administration was committed to fighting crimes and protecting lives and property in the state.

The commissioner also announced the council’s decisions to pay all outstanding salaries to workers of Edo Transport Service (Edo Line) and close down the company for one month while a new management would be put in place to run its affairs. Enoma assured that the government was doing everything possible to address the debt profile of the company which stood at N843,866.102.00.

The amount, he said, represented, among others, loans, salary arrears and debts owed suppliers.

Besides, he said the council had directed the commissioner for works to closely monitor all ongoing road rehabilitation and reconstruction projects with a view to ensuring that the projects were executed on schedule and in accordance with specifications.