Lagos Governor, Sanwo-Olu Speaks On Security

SPEECH BY MR. BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE AT THE FIFTEENTH TOWN HALL MEETING ON SECURITY, HELD ON DECEMBER 22, 2021 AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS. Protocols.

Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, 

Last year when I stood before this gathering, what dominated our discussion was how to respond to the daunting challenges which shook the foundations of the security infrastructure in Lagos State, the Covid-19 Pandemic and attendant security issues faced during the lockdown period, the gas explosion at Abule Ado, and the violent riots that followed the EndSARS protests. 

Of course, in addition to these three outlier challenges that reared their heads in 2020, Lagos has also had to contend with the traditional threats posed by cultism, street gangs, area boys, traffic robberies, kidnapping, land-grabbing, unruly transport operators, and the influx of persons from other parts of the country, fleeing poverty or insecurity in other parts of the country. 

At that Town Hall Meeting a year ago, I assured you of the resilience of the people and government of Lagos State; our capacity to rise above the unprecedented disruption confronting us. 

Today, one year on, we have made good on our promise to emerge triumphant. We are now, I am pleased to note, firmly on the journey of rebuilding and restoration. 

Our gathering today is another indication that we are pressing ahead with the Lagos State Security Trust Fund’s vision of “making Lagos the safest, most secure and most prosperous commercial nerve center in Africa”. Our theme – Reconceptualizing Safety and Security in Lagos State — clearly acknowledges that we are reviewing our strategies and approaches to ensure we achieve our goal.

This year, the State Government, and the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, with the active support of the private sector, procured and deployed the following security assets for the use of the Nigeria Police Force: Vehicles (180), motorbikes (200), Armoured Personnel Carriers (8), Water cannons (2), cellular communication devices, Level IV bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, and other items, worth over N3 billion. 

We had the privilege of having the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, commission these assets on June 10, 2021 at the Police College grounds in Ikeja. 

In addition to those physical assets, our interventions have included daily fueling of security vehicles and boats, continuous training of security personnel, and routine maintenance and repairs. 

The Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency has been reorganized to play a more active role in providing intelligence in line with the community policing structure, and to provide manpower support to augment the resources of the police in areas like crowd control, traffic management, and other community engagement responsibilities. 

We will continue to train and retrain all enforcement agents of the Lagos State government, while also supporting the federal security agencies to improve their effectiveness. We have continued to foster engagements with the various security agencies in the state, demanding that they work together to dislodge criminal elements from our state. 

These engagements have yielded results as we have developed a mechanism in which every agency works in synergy with others to improve the State’s security architecture. 

We are currently restructuring the 112 and 767 Emergency Call Centre, to enable it to deliver on its mandate, and earn the confidence of the people of Lagos State. In line with our vision of a 21st-century Megacity, we will deliver a Call Center that is truly responsive. On a related note, we are also progressing on our goal of installing a network of internet-enabled security surveillance cameras across the Metropolis. 

Ultimately, the most important contribution we can make to security is what we do to prevent it from being disrupted in the first place. Nowhere is the maxim of ‘Prevention is better than Cure’ truer than when it comes to Security; it is much easier and less expensive to prevent crime and criminality in the first place than to try to tackle it when it has taken root. 

Therefore, our focus in Lagos State is on programs, policies and projects targeted at social-economic development: the creation of jobs, economic opportunities and prosperity, and the sustenance of hope in the hearts and lives of our people. As you all know, despair is one of the greatest existing threats to peace and security. There is no limit to what people can do when they have lost hope about tomorrow. 

We are delivering on all our promises, across all the pillars of our THEMES governing agenda. From transportation to health to environment to education and technology, modernization, entertainment and tourism, and to security; we have left no one in doubt as to the depth of our commitment to the emergence of a Greater Lagos. 

Our Megacity is a giant construction site: roads, hospitals, schools and classrooms, jetties, a light rail system, housing units, agriculture projects, stadiums, and many more. We are expanding our multi-modal transportation network, training personnel, funding small businesses and startups, automating public processes and systems, and empowering our young people. 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, At this point, let me acknowledge the very generous contributions of donors to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. Without you, we would not be able to do as much as we are doing – your contributions have greatly made a difference. 

There is however, much more still to be done. We need more donors, and more contributions. I am making a special appeal to the private sector and to citizens and other stakeholders in Lagos State, to add your name to the donors’ list of the LSSTF. And to our existing donors, I believe there is room for more support. 

On our part, we will continue to ensure judicious use of the resources you make available. I am glad that transparency and accountability are already baked into the administrative and oversight structure of the Fund; without a doubt, this is one of the most well-managed Funds anywhere in this country.

I would like to recognize the very significant and sobering fact that some of our security personnel paid the supreme price during the course of the year. We acknowledge and honor their sacrifice, and we will work to ensure that these sacrifices are not in vain. The least we can do is to support the families they left behind, and we have done this. It is our prayer that God will continue to keep and bless these families. A case in point is that of CSP Abonde, who was killed in the line of duty on September 23, 2021; the LSSTF has since given the sum of N10 million to his family. 

As Government, we will ensure that we continue to play the leading role to secure our State. We have demonstrated our commitment in the past, and we remain resolute in our quest to enhance peace and security, with your support and partnership. We shall never relent. 

On that note, let me thank the LSSTF for putting this Town Hall Meeting together, and thank all the attendees and participants for your presence and commitment. A safe Lagos indeed benefits us all in multiple ways as well as the entire country. 

I thank you all for listening. 

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Governor of Lagos State December 22, 2021