BY ANITA OKORO
Asharami Synergy, a Sahara Group downstream company, has renovated and upgraded the police station on Murtala Muhammed Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos, to enhance security and sustainable community policing.
The project is one of Asharami Synergy’s corporate citizenship initiatives aimed at promoting the sustainable development goals in communities where the company operates and is managed by Sahara Foundation, the corporate citizenship vehicle of Sahara Group.
The MMIA Police Station received a complete building makeover from Asharami Synergy. The project which began in June 2022 required a comprehensive structural overhaul on the main building. The project also involved internal and external upgrades, including the introduction of an inverter and solar panels to ensure the station has uninterrupted power for seamless operations. The renovation also included electrical wiring, replacement of the entire roof, windows, and doors, painting, and overhaul of the facility’s toilet systems.
Yemi Odutola, chief operating officer, Asharami Synergy, said the inclusion of solar power is in line with Asharami and Sahara Foundation’s unwavering commitment to promoting access to energy and building sustainable environments.
“This energy saving, and sustainability approach applied to the renovation of the MMA Police station would ensure the facility receives power-dependent real time alerts, thereby leading to improved security. Asharami Synergy is delighted at the opportunity to work with the Nigeria Police to achieve this feat,” Odutola said.
The official handover ceremony of the renovated station, which took place on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at the MMIA Police Station, was hosted by Joseph Alabi (SP), MMIA Divisional Police Officer, and had Salem Vincent Amachree, commissioner of police, Lagos Airport Command, as special guest of honour and representative of the Inspector General of Police.
Speaking at the handover event, Commissioner of Police Amachree described the renovation of the MMIA Police Station as laudable and commended the management of Asharami Synergy and Sahara Foundation for promoting efficiency and service experience through the project.
Noting the state of the station prior to the completion of the project, Amachree said the difference was clear. He assured members of the public of the commitment of the Nigerian Police to safeguarding lives and property and enjoined all to collaborate towards keeping Nigeria secure for all.
DPO Alabi, on his part, commended Asharami Synergy and Sahara Foundation for delivering the project seamlessly. He said the morale boosting initiative would go a long way to supporting the activities of the station, adding that the renovated station would be fully utilized towards enhancing security in Mafoloku, with an estimated population of about 200,000 people.
Chisomebi Okoroafor, programs manager, Sahara Foundation, said the MMIA Police Station renovation was one out of several renovation projects ongoing across the country. Okoroafor listed Ibafon, Ijora, and Onne (in Rivers State) police stations as some of the facilities to have benefitted from the project targeted at promoting sustainable policing.
