In celebration of World Cleanup Day, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Epe Branch, led by Comrade Moibi Ibrahim, held a community service event at the Epe Divisional Police Station on Saturday, October 5th, 2024. The event aimed to promote cleanliness and facilitate cooperation between the youth and security agencies while also addressing broader community concerns.
During the cleanup exercise, Comrade Ibrahim called on all levels of government and political stakeholders to replicate the successful partnership that transformed Epe General Hospital into a Federal Medical Center (FMC) in other critical sectors, particularly in resolving the town’s ongoing power challenges.
“We couldn’t hold the event on World Cleanup Day itself due to prior engagements, but we decided to proceed this week at the Police Station,” Ibrahim explained. “As youths, it’s our responsibility to take part in maintaining our community. We wanted to not only engage in community service but also support the police, who have been instrumental in ensuring the safety of lives and properties in Epe.”
The youths, who converged at the police station, were warmly welcomed by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Benjamin Ayeni and his gallant men, who expressed his gratitude for their contributions. He further encouraged them to steer clear of crime with the belief that initiatives like this would strengthen the bond between the police and the community.
Comrade Ibrahim reiterated the youth council’s commitment to creating a strong synergy with the police and other stakeholders in Epe. “Our relationship with the police is essential for fostering peace and security in our town,” he added.
Turning his attention to the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Lagos State and the Federal Government, which resulted in the elevation of Epe General Hospital to a Federal Medical Center, Ibrahim applauded the collaboration. “This is a major achievement for the people of Epe, and we are grateful for this upgrade,” he noted.
However, Ibrahim stressed that the same kind of cooperation was needed to address Epe’s persistent electricity problems. “We have had serious engagements with stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels on how to resolve the town’s power issues. Ikeja Electric has assured us that the damaged panel will be fixed in a few days, and we should soon experience stable power supply.”
He also urged leaders to explore the Omotosho Power Project as a potential long-term solution to the town’s electricity woes. “A community as influential as Epe cannot continue to suffer from inadequate power supply. Without electricity, we’re as good as dead,” Ibrahim stated.
He concluded by calling for continuous collaboration between public and private stakeholders to tackle the problem, emphasizing that the youth council will remain actively involved in discussions aimed at achieving sustainable power solutions for the town.
