Lagos spent over N3b to equip police in 2021, Sanwo-Olu reveals

Assures Lagosians of maximum security in 2022

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, said over N3 billion had been spent to equip the Nigeria Police in 2021 in its quest to ensure the safety and security of residents.

He gave the assurance that his government in 2022 would ensure the state remains the most secured and safe state with far-reaching support to security operatives in Nigeria.

The governor, who stated this at the 15th town hall on security by the state government, organised by Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, with the theme, “Re-conceptualising Safety and Security In Lagos State,” maintained that the government would continue to play the leading role to secure the state, saying it has demonstrated the commitment in the past and will remain resolute in the quest to enhance peace and security.

“The Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency has been reorganised 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.

The LSSTF Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, who spoke on the challenges faced by the Fund, said donations into the state purse remained low and formed part of the major drawbacks in 2021.

Balogun said only three banks donated to the Fund in 2021, adding that LSSTF received N1.4 billion, much of which was the payment of pledges made in previous years.

He said that though the amount looked huge, it became insignificant considering the need to keep the state safe and secure for people and businesses to thrive.

ALSO, LSSTF Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, said the Fund had continued to play a major role in the enhancement of the security architecture of the state.

SIMILARLY, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who stated that 2021 posed a huge security challenge with the #EndSARS protests, said the state did not record any attack on any bank, which is laudable.