Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called
for increased private sector collaboration to strengthen security across the
state, saying sustained investment is critical to keeping Lagos safe and
attractive to investors.
The governor made the call during a private breakfast
meeting with selected Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of
various companies, organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in
Ikoyi to raise funds for critical security needs ahead of 2026.
Sanwo-Olu said previous interventions funded through
the LSSTF had been transparently deployed and effectively utilised to support
security agencies, noting that the Lagos security funding model has since been
adopted by other state governments and even at the federal level.
He explained that while the Lagos State Government
continues to fund more than half of the state’s annual security needs, private
sector support remains vital.
“Year after year, the state government has never taken
a back seat on security funding. But we want a system the private sector can
trust—one built on accountability, transparency, and prudent use of funds,” the
governor said.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state is rebuilding its
Command and Control Centre with modern technology, expanding CCTV coverage
under its Safe City initiative, and upgrading emergency response capacity.
“We want Lagos to remain secure. We are focused on
improving the rescue ability, capacity and capability of our first responders,”
he added.
Among the security priorities outlined are
multi-purpose helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), water
cannons, tactical police training, digital communication tools, smart CCTV
cameras, patrol vehicles and an ultra-modern mechanical workshop.
Addressing recent protests over demolitions in parts
of Makoko, the governor defended the government’s actions, insisting they were
carried out in the public interest and to prevent potential disasters.
He explained that unchecked expansion of waterfront
shanties near the Third Mainland Bridge and high-tension power lines posed
serious safety risks.
“I will not sit down and allow a tragedy where
hundreds of lives could be lost in a single incident. What we did was to push
them back for safety reasons,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He criticised some non-governmental organisations for
what he described as exploiting vulnerable communities for financial gain,
stressing that the government’s intention was not to displace residents but to
protect lives and improve living conditions.
Sanwo-Olu also revealed plans to commission 35 junior
and senior secondary schools in Tolu, Ajegunle, which will cater to about
22,000 students. He highlighted the successful relocation of the Okobaba
sawmill to Agbowa as an example of long-term urban renewal efforts, noting that
the project cost billions of naira and included the construction of over 500
housing units.
According to the governor, maintaining security
remains central to Lagos’ economic ambitions.
“We must continue to create an environment where
investments can thrive and where people are confident that Lagos is the right
place for the future,” he said.
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