By Oki Samson
The men and officers of MOPOL 2 Squadron led by their Commanding Officer, ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi yesterday scored a remarkable feat as they commissioned a brand new ultramodern administrative complex which will cater to the needs of officers currently there and in future, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report. The project was borne out of the paucity of office spaces for the officers in the Squadron Headquarters located at Keffi street, Obalende, Lagos.
The result-oriented and intelligent Commanding Officer ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi who was desirous of positive change in the Nigeria Police Force conceived the idea, sprung into action, and with the support of other officers, the outcome is the gigantic structure completed in 18 months. To crown it up, the Squadron leader made a lasting impression as he decided to name the administrative complex in the honour of the leader par excellence IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
NAOSNP can report that the new administrative block contains 10 offices, conference room, computer room, and other facilities which will provide a conducive working condition for the officers. It was completed in 18 months by the collective efforts of the officers and men of the MOPOL 2 Squadron.
Yesterday’s commissioning ceremony, NAOSNP can also report, became a massive jubilation within the MOPOL component of Nigeria Police Force across Lagos state. The Nigeria Police band and POWA Mopol 2 Squadron to dazzled the audience. With this, the exceptional Obiuwevbi has shown that success is indeed possible when we have men who are committed to shining the light in various spheres of influence wherever they find themselves.
Many dignitaries were in attendance including AIG in charge of Zone 2, AIG Mohammed Ari Ali; DIG Taiwo (retd); Brig. Gen. LA Sadiq, Commanding Officer of Nigerian Army 81 DIV Garrison; Commodore KO Oguntuga, Commander, NNS Beecroft, Nigerian Navy; and Air Marshal AY Abdullahi. Others are DCP Waheed Ayilara, DC in charge of State CID Panti, Lagos State Command; ACP Ibiye Braide, Commanding Officer of MOPOL 22; ACP Abubakar Yakubu, Commanding Officer of MOPOL 49; ACP A.I Daniel, Commanding Officer of MOPOL 23; ACP Adesina Lawal, Commanding Officer of MOPOL 26. Members of Corporate Nigeria who were present include Mr. Oladokun Oye, Vice President, Shops and Retail Postpaid Business, Airtel Nigeria; Mr Victor Briggs, MD/CEO of VicBriggs Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Austen Peters; Chief Bernard Imarah. among others.
The AIG in charge of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun), AIG Mohammed Ari Ali who was visibly elated at the commissioning ceremony said: ‘The project came at a very good time and the commissioning gladdens my heart. Commissioning this project is also a wakeup call that anytime we find ourselves in a strategic place we should do something that one can be proud of. The Force will forever remember him.’
‘There are some of us who do everything to add value to wherever they find themselves. I admire ACP Matthew and the officers who put this together. He has put his name in the good books. For life, if you come here any day, anytime, even in the future, people that come here will say that a Delta man was the one who built this. He didn’t only add value to his name but to his LGA and state. He has achieved’, AIG Ari Ali praised ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi
Air Marshal AY Abdullahi who spoke briefly hailed the officers of the Squadron 2. ‘we cannot thank you enough for the support that you give us. We want to believe that the Lord will continue to bless and guide everyone that’s part of this.’
On his part, DCP in charge of State CID Panti, DCP Waheed Ayilara remarked about the project, ‘It is a wonderful thing which shows that officers are giving back to the society. We also thank the officers that contributed to the making of the facility most especially ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi. I give kudos to him. This is a masterpiece and well-thought project. Those of us who were in this place before him are envious of what he has done.’
‘Government cannot do it alone. We have to give back. We need to improve on whatever we have on ground for posterity and also to have good legacy’, concluded Ayilara who was a one-time Commanding officer in the same Squadron 2.
Recounting his experience of the success of the befitting structure, the Commanding Officer, MOPOL Squadron 2, ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi revealed: ‘We set up this block as our contribution to the Police system. We had a small place we were sharing before, it couldn’t occupy everybody.’
To underscore the quality of men and officers in the Nigeria Police as against what many think of the Force, ACP Obiuwevbi added: ‘So I said to myself that if we have this space, let us work on it. So myself and other officers put contractors to work on it and we applaud ourselves for it, everyone that’s been part of it in the past 18 months.’
‘Thank you very much, everyone that have come to celebrate the joy of this commissioning with us’, noted the remarkable difference maker, ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi.
In a brief chat with the pressmen after the event, ACP Matthew Obiuwevbi further shared: ‘Over 60 officers are here but we don’t have enough space for them so we have to use our goodwill to put this together. We raised the money through our goodwill and contributions of officers and men here. I will tell officers that come after us to make this place a better place than they met it.’
