Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has provided a detailed vision for how Lagos State intends to weave a future state police force into its current security tapestry.
Speaking during a recent interview on TVC, the Governor framed the move as a critical evolution for the state’s safety, focusing on centralized coordination and technological synergy.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the primary advantage of a state-controlled force would be the ability to manage security from a singular, high-tech hub. This “Command and Control” approach would allow the Governor to oversee security operations with greater precision.
“If we do have state police, we can ensure that me, as a Chief Executive of the state, can integrate the entire architecture of the state police into our command and control centre,” Sanwo-Olu explained.
Beyond technology, the Governor highlighted the state’s readiness in terms of manpower. Lagos currently maintains a robust auxiliary security presence that could serve as the foundation for a formal state police department.
– Current Strength: Over 7,500 Neighborhood Watch personnel.
– Proposed Expansion: Plans to scale up to 12,000 members.
Sanwo-Olu noted the scalability of this force, stating: “I have over 7,500 neighbourhood watch. I can actually push to get them to 10,000 or 12,000 tomorrow or next tomorrow.”
A major pillar of this plan involves the “harmonization” of intelligence. Sanwo-Olu intends to bridge the gap between various state agencies—such as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA)—to ensure that surveillance data is utilized effectively.
“The same information that LASTMA has in terms of cameras, the same information that LASEMA has and the state police, we all sit together and we will share it,” he said, adding that this collective data sharing would result in “a comprehensive, integrated security architecture.”
The Governor’s remarks coincide with a broader push for decentralized governance led by President Bola Tinubu. During the 14th APC National Caucus meeting in Abuja, the President urged party leaders and governors to support both state policing and the Supreme Court-mandated financial autonomy for local governments.
Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in the federal government’s support for this transition. “And thankfully, Mr President has said that he’ll do everything within his power to see how the country evolves into a state police,” he noted.
This alignment between the state and the presidency suggests that the legislative and structural hurdles to state policing may soon be addressed, paving the way for the integrated system Sanwo-Olu envisions.
