Lagos police beefs up security around Covid-19 cold store

Joy Joseph, Lagos

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, has warned negligence and complicity on the part of staff and security operatives deployed to the Lagos State Cold Store, where the recently received Covid-19 vaccines are kept.

Odumosu, who was speaking during an inspection tour of the store which is located in Ikeja, on Tuesday, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police(DCP), Operations, Ahmed Kontangora, to deploy adequate police personnel to the facility and ordered the Area Commander, Area F, Ali Zongo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and Divisional Police Officers, Ikeja, Taiwo Oyewale, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), to personally supervise the men detailed to provide security for the staff and the vaccines accordingly.

A statement on the visits, signed by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, read: “CP Hakeem Odumosu, on Tuesday, March 9, inspected the Lagos State cold store, located at Ikeja, Lagos State, where the COVID-19 vaccines are being kept for adequate deployment of men and security of the vaccines.

“The Commissioner of Police, who was received by the Lagos State Immunisation Officer, Mrs. Bola Orefejo and team, warned the staff at the cold store to be sensitive to the safety of the vaccines and ensure that unauthorized staff or individuals are not allowed into the premises of the cold store

“The police boss however directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Ahmed Kontangora, to deploy adequate police personnel to the facility and ordered the Area Commander, Area F, ACP Ali Zongo, and Divisional Police Officers, Ikeja, CSP Taiwo Oyewale to personally supervise the men detailed to provide security for the staff and the vaccines accordingly.

“The Commissioner of Police also warned that the entire surroundings of the store be cordoned off while the entire area is made free of intruders.”