Edo Governor Says Security Agencies Will Arrive in Five Minutes, So Edo Has Finally Discovered Fast Delivery

Governor Monday Okpebholo has made a rather ambitious promise to the people of Edo State: security agencies will be able to respond to threats anywhere in the state within five minutes.

Five minutes.

At this point, Edo residents are probably wondering whether the government has quietly upgraded the police to Bolt Premium.

The governor made the promise during a Sunday service at Living Faith Church in Benin City, saying his administration is putting measures in place to improve security and that Edo would be safer within the next month. He also said dedicated emergency telephone numbers would soon be released for residents to call when they are in distress.

And honestly, Nigerians love a good number.

Tell us inflation is 20 per cent, we argue. Tell us GDP is growing by 4.43 per cent, we ask where the growth is. Tell us electricity will improve, we wait. But tell a Nigerian that security will arrive in five minutes and suddenly everybody wants to test the system.

Somebody in Benin is probably already looking at his phone thinking, “Should I report that my neighbour stole my bucket just to see?”

Because the real issue is not whether five minutes sounds good. Of course it does. If somebody is being kidnapped, attacked or robbed, five minutes can feel like five years. A genuinely rapid emergency-response system could make an enormous difference.

The interesting part is how this promise will work in real life.

Will the emergency number ring directly inside a police control room? Will there be patrol vehicles strategically positioned across the state? Will security agencies have enough personnel, vehicles, fuel and communication equipment to actually meet the target?

Because Nigerian emergency response has historically had its own relationship with time.

You can call today, explain the situation, give them your location, describe the suspect and even provide the colour of his shirt.

Then somebody says, “Okay, we are coming.”

You ask, “How soon?”

“Very soon.”

Brother, define soon.

To be fair, Okpebholo is promising a system, not claiming that every officer will magically teleport to every crime scene. His administration says the goal is to strengthen security against kidnapping, robbery and other crimes and make the state safer within the next month.

So, Edo is apparently entering the era of five-minute security.

Now all that remains is for the emergency number to answer in five minutes too.