- Sanwo-Olu has urged retired Lagos public servants to contribute their experience to improving security in the state
- He called for practical measures covering crime prevention, intelligence sharing, emergency response and community participation
- The governor described security as a collective responsibility involving government, agencies, residents and other stakeholders
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged retired heads of service and permanent secretaries in the state to deploy their wealth of experience towards improving security and protecting lives and property across Lagos.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the governor made the appeal through the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, who represented him at the 13th summit of the Association of Lagos State Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ALARHOSPS) on Tuesday.
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The event, held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, focused on the theme, “Sanctity of Lives and Safety of Property: Creating a New Norm in Lagos State.”
Sanwo-Olu noted that the retired senior civil servants possessed extensive institutional knowledge from their years in public administration, which could be valuable in tackling the state’s evolving security concerns.
He said effective governance required more than sound policies, stressing the importance of strong institutions, coordination among government agencies and public trust.
The governor encouraged the participants to use the summit to formulate practical measures that could improve crime prevention, community involvement, intelligence gathering and sharing, emergency response and public confidence in security institutions.
According to him, his administration has continued to strengthen Lagos’ security framework through support for the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and other relevant security bodies.
He added that the government was also investing in modern technology, intelligence capabilities, personnel training and improved cooperation among security agencies.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that maintaining security could not be left to the government and security agencies alone, describing it as a collective responsibility involving residents, businesses, traditional and community leaders and other stakeholders.
He urged residents to report suspicious activities, while calling on landlords, business owners and community leaders to play their respective roles in preventing security threats and resolving conflicts before they escalate.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and creating an environment where residents could live and conduct their businesses safely.
He also praised ALARHOSPS for sustaining its annual summit and continuing to contribute to public governance despite the members’ retirement from active service.
Sanwo-Olu said retirement from government employment should not prevent former public officials from contributing their knowledge and experience to the development of society.
Speaking separately, the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, said the state’s expanding population, rapid urbanisation and growing economic activities had brought new security challenges that required stronger institutions and greater cooperation among stakeholders.
Agoro said the state had taken steps to improve public safety through enhanced emergency response mechanisms, infrastructure development, support for security agencies and stronger inter-agency collaboration.
He described the summit as an avenue for retired public service leaders, security experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to assess emerging threats and develop workable solutions for improving security across Lagos.
He expressed confidence that the experience of the participants would contribute to the development of innovative and practical recommendations capable of strengthening the state’s security architecture.
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