Lagos CP tasks online security news publishers on transparency 

… He is media friendly —Samson Oki 

By Bose Adelaja 

CITIZENS COMPASS —The 39th Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke Mustapha, has tasked members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), to ensure transparency in their reportage.

The Commissioner said this was neccessary to give accurate information to members of the public considering the fact that online news travels faster than any other medium. 

He was speaking at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, during his first meeting with NAOSNP led by its president, Samson Oki. 

Adegoke harped on the timeliness of online news saying his administration would collaborate with NAOSNP to discharge quality information to the public. 

“Online news is the fastest way to pass across information to members of the public. Therefore, it is important to confirm your stories before publishing,

“I know a lot of stories fly around but I will like to appeal to you to always confirm your stories before publishing. 

“You are the intermediaries between the Nigeria Police Force and members of the public in terms of reporting our achievements, breakthroughs and our shortcomings.

We are not against yoir reportage but kindly ensure transparency and verify facts. Dont yank faxts off from your reportage,

He said. 

Citizens Compass reported that Adegoke, was redeployed to Lagos State on December 11, 2023, to take the baton from Idowu Owohunwa, who was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG). 

NAOSNP is a group of prominent online publishers, saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace, safety and security in the nation through verified security reportage.

The Commissioner promised that his tenure would be transparent and would not be secretive saying, “We are going to be transparent because we have nothing to hide, “ said the Commissioner. 

On collaboration with the Association, he said, “We are going to work together with you sincerely and transparently. 

“Yoir constructive criticism will help us a long way by ensuring we put our strategies right and review it. Also, it will put us on our toes.

You should be our eyes while you criticise and appraise our activities. My line and that of other principal officers are open to you.

“That is all we want interms of partnership and collaboration. It should be transparent, sincere and geared towards projecting the interest of members of the public. 

“We are ready to partner with you and ensure that members of the public get the best from us through your association. 

“Your news travel veru faster and we would like to leverage on this through our activities,” he noted. 

Emphasising the importance of NAOSNP to the Command, he said. “I decided to meet your association first because its importance cannot be overemphasised. “Your news travels faster than that of others and that is why I need to work with you.” He added. 

Responding, Mr Oki thanked the Commissioner for the honour bestowed on the Association, and pledged to work with him as the Association has been working with his predecessors. 

The President also appreciated Adegoke for his no nonsense attitude in the discharge of his duties, taking into cognizance the immediate removal of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), who detained a lawyer for attempting to bail his client.

“For those of us who have been following CP Adegoke for about a decade, we can boldly say that he is media friendly. He is one of the officers that open their doors widely for journalists regardless of their anticidents.”

He congratulated the Commissioner on his national honours as mni.

Earlier, spokesman of the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the purpose of the meeting was for the Association to officially interact with the Commissioner.

In attendance were; Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Operations, DCP Fatai Tijani; Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC State CID, Waheed Ayilara; President, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, (NAOSNP) Samson Oki and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Khan S.U among others.