By Titilope Adako
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the state is fully prepared to operate its own police force, citing two decades of consistent planning, investment, and strategic reforms that have positioned Lagos as the most ready sub-national entity in Nigeria for state policing.
In a statement on Friday, APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo said the Lagos Security Vision, initiated under Bola Tinubu and sustained through successive administrations up to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has evolved into a robust, intelligence-driven security system capable of immediate transition into a formal state police structure once constitutional provisions are activated.
The party credited Lagos’ security achievements to deliberate investments in public-private partnerships, modern policing technology, intelligence gathering, community-based vigilance, and inter-agency cooperation.
It highlighted the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), established under Tinubu, as Nigeria’s most effective sub-national security funding model, enabling the provision of patrol vehicles, communication equipment, surveillance tools, and operational support for security agencies.
Under Sanwo-Olu, Lagos has expanded technology-driven policing tools, including smart surveillance systems, traffic monitoring devices, crime-mapping platforms, and digital early-warning mechanisms that enhance proactive threat detection.
The APC said this has contributed to the relative peace, economic vibrancy, and social stability the state enjoys despite its dense population and complex urban challenges.
The statement also highlighted Lagos’ community engagement model, which integrates traditional rulers, community associations, and civil society into a coordinated security network.
Coordination 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 has created a seamless security response system unmatched by other states.
The APC further noted the role of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in disaster and emergency management, showcasing the state’s capacity to build a world-class framework for managing fire outbreaks, accidents, and other emergencies.
According to the party, Lagos’ continuity of governance has ensured sustained security policies and institutional memory, creating a security ecosystem that can be expanded into a full-fledged state police structure.
The APC urged other states to study and adopt Lagos’ model to address Nigeria’s security challenges through strong local action backed by national coordination.
“Lagos leads. Others can follow. Nigeria will be better for it,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu on Thursday boosted the state’s crime-fighting capacity with 100 operational vehicles donated to security agencies.
The vehicles, jointly procured by the Lagos State Government and Conference 57—the association of chairmen of the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs—were presented during the 19th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security organised by LSSTF at Victoria Island.
The event was attended by captains of industry, traditional rulers, political leaders, and heads of security agencies.
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