Lagos Poised for State Policing Framework — APC

 

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared the state fully prepared to operate a state police system, citing two decades of sustained investment, reforms and coordinated security planning.

Amid renewed national debates on decentralising policing, the party said Lagos already runs an intelligence-led security structure that can be seamlessly converted into a formal state police once the constitution is amended.

In a statement on Friday, APC spokesman, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said the Lagos Security Vision, initiated during the administration of then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and sustained through successive administrations up to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has matured into one of the most efficient sub-national security models in the country.

According to him, Lagos’ achievements are the result of deliberate investments in public–private partnerships, modern surveillance tools, community vigilance, intelligence gathering and strengthened inter-agency cooperation.

Oladejo noted that the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), established under Tinubu, remains Nigeria’s most effective sub-national security funding platform, providing patrol vehicles, communication gadgets, surveillance systems and operational support to security agencies.

He added that Governor Sanwo-Olu has deepened technology-driven policing through smart cameras, traffic monitoring devices, crime-mapping platforms and digital early-warning systems that aid proactive threat detection.

The party said Lagos also operates a unique community-engagement network involving traditional rulers, civil society groups, and community associations to reinforce grassroots vigilance.

It listed the cooperation among the Police, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the military, NSCDC and federal intelligence units as evidence of a seamless security response architecture unmatched by any state.

The APC also highlighted the state’s emergency response capacity anchored by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), which it said demonstrates Lagos’ ability to manage disasters, fires, accidents and other emergencies with world-class efficiency.

According to Oladejo, Lagos’ continuity of governance gives it a unique advantage, as security policies have been improved upon rather than abandoned.

“With this tested model, Lagos State is clearly positioned to transition into a full-fledged State Police structure whenever the constitution permits. Unlike states still debating frameworks, Lagos already operates a complementary, intelligence-driven system that only needs formal recognition,” the statement added.

The party credited the progress to the strategic foundations laid by President Tinubu and the continuity provided by Governor Sanwo-Olu.

While accusing opposition elements of exploiting national insecurity for political gain, the APC said Lagos has instead chosen responsibility and long-term planning.

The party urged other states to understudy the Lagos model, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges demand strong local action backed by federal coordination.

Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu on Thursday boosted the state’s security capacity with the donation of 100 operational vehicles to security agencies. The vehicles were jointly procured by the state government and Conference 57, the forum of chairmen of the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.

The presentation was made at the 19th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, organised by the LSSTF in Victoria Island, with captains of industry, traditional rulers, political leaders and security chiefs in attendance.