by Favour Anetor

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday reiterated his administration’s commitment to the security of Lagosians, assuring that his government would continuously work to protect the lives and property of the citizens.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration’s vision for Lagos State was to build a state that is secure, proactive, and technologically empowered to meet modern security challenges, urging concerned government agencies, citizens, and partners to continue working together to transform the vision into reality.

The governor stated this while handing over 260 brand-new patrol vehicles, hardware, communications gadgets and protective gear to security agencies to boost their operations in responding swiftly and effectively to security challenges in Lagos State.

The vehicles and equipment were presented during the 18th Annual Security Town Hall Meeting with the Governor, themed “Data and Technology-Driven Security: The Way Forward”, at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

At the event was attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and captains of industry, Sanwo-Olu said his administration was scaling up the use of technology and data to improve security as well as monitoring of traffic in the state.

“Our administration is steadfast in its commitment to harnessing the transformative power of data and technology to revolutionise how we protect our communities,” he said.

Speaking on his administration’s achievements in line with Security and Governance, which is the sixth pillar of the THEMES+ Developmental Agenda, Sanwo-Olu said the government and the people of Lagos through strategic partnerships, substantial investments and collective determination, had achieved notable milestones.

“We have deployed 450 Intelligent Video Surveillance Cameras across critical areas in Lagos, all linked to the Lagos State Command and Control Centre. These cameras use intelligent video analytics to detect unusual activities, enabling real-time alerts to security agencies for faster and more precise responses,” the governor said.

“We launched a digital identification system incorporating biometric technology and digital ID verification. This initiative enhances security in high-risk zones, including schools, markets, government facilities, and transportation hubs, to reduce fraud and impersonation incidents.

“We are integrating drones to extend surveillance coverage to hard-to-reach areas, including waterways and densely populated zones. Drones will enhance aerial monitoring, crowd management, and traffic assessments effectively,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said in recognition of the rapid evolution of security technology, his government was deepening partnerships with tech companies to incorporate cutting-edge innovations into Lagos’ security ecosystem.

“To safeguard citizens’ data and prevent breaches in our interconnected systems, we inaugurated a cybersecurity advisory board to strengthen digital security, drive technological advancement and enhance digital security,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also commended the donors to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), whose contributions, he said, had significantly bolstered Lagos State security capabilities, urging organisations and individuals to contribute more.

“Security is not merely an expense but a long-term investment in our collective future, fostering growth, prosperity, and development for all,” he said.

On his part, IGP Egbetokun commended the Lagos State Government for the vehicles and equipment, saying they would enhance the operations of the police and other security agencies.

He said, thanks to the state government’s efforts to ensure a safe Lagos, the days of armed robbery and bank robbery in Lagos State were long gone.

“What we are doing here today is the usual assistance that the state government has been giving to the police in the state. Without the assistance that the police receive from the government, we will not be able to do as much as we are doing in Lagos State. We would have been overwhelmed with insecurity in Lagos State,” Egetokun said.

“There was a time that armed robbery, bank robbery was common in Lagos, but I can recall that since 2007 till date, only one bank robbery succeeded in Lagos, and that was as far back as 2014. So, the days of armed robbery, bank robbery are gone,” he said.