- Lagos to Boost Security Capacity as Sanwo-Olu Courts Private Sector
- Says Makoko demolition is in overall public interest
- Governor to commission 35 schools in Ajegunle next month
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to support the Lagos State Government’s security agenda through increased contributions to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), saying sustained investment is critical to protecting lives, property and economic growth in the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the governor made the appeal on Friday during a private breakfast meeting with selected managing directors and chief executive officers in Ikoyi, organised by the LSSTF to mobilise funds for Lagos’ 2026 critical security needs.
Sanwo-Olu listed priority requirements to include multipurpose security helicopters and drones, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), water cannons, tactical training and infrastructure upgrades for the police, smart CCTV cameras, digital communication equipment, patrol vehicles and an ultra-modern mechanical workshop.
He said resources previously provided through the LSSTF had been transparently and judiciously utilised to strengthen security agencies, noting that the Lagos model had since been adopted by other subnational governments and even at the federal level.
“On a year-on-year basis, the Lagos State Government has never taken a back seat. We still fund well over 50 per cent of security expenditure, but we want a system the private sector can trust one that guarantees accountability and transparent deployment of funds,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state was rebuilding its Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment and expanding the Safe City initiative through the installation of CCTV cameras across Lagos.
“We want Lagos to remain secure and improve the rescue capacity and capability of our first responders,” he added.
Reacting to recent protests over demolitions in parts of Makoko, the governor said the government’s actions were driven by public safety concerns, particularly the proximity of illegal structures to the Third Mainland Bridge and high-tension power lines.
“I will not sit down and allow a disaster that could claim hundreds of lives. What we did was in the interest of safety, not to punish anyone,” Sanwo-Olu said, dismissing allegations that the government was insensitive to the plight of affected residents.
He also criticised some non-governmental organisations, accusing them of exploiting vulnerable communities for financial gain rather than offering meaningful solutions.
The governor further announced plans to commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools in the Tolu area of Ajegunle, which will accommodate about 22,000 students, adding that the project would be unveiled next month.
Sanwo-Olu also cited the successful relocation of the Okobaba sawmill to Agbowa as an example of long-term urban renewal, noting that the exercise, which cost the state billions of naira, ended years of recurring fires and provided over 500 housing units for affected workers.
According to him, sustained security, infrastructure development and social investment remain key to positioning Lagos as a safe destination for residents and investors alike.
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