Lagos Ready For State Police, Says APC

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the state is fully prepared for the establishment of a state police, noting that two decades of consistent investment, planning, and strategic reforms have positioned Lagos as the most ready sub-national entity in Nigeria to operate its own police structure.

Amid rising security challenges in the country, there are growing calls for the establishment of state police to complement the existing federal police.

In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the party said the Lagos Security Vision—conceived during the administration of Bola Tinubu and sustained through successive governments up to that of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu—has evolved into a robust, intelligence-driven security architecture capable of immediate transition into a formal state policing system once constitutional provisions are activated.

The APC said Lagos’ security achievements are the outcome of deliberate investments in public-private collaboration, modern policing technology, intelligence gathering, community-based vigilance, and strengthened inter-agency cooperation.

It noted that the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), established under Tinubu, remains Nigeria’s most effective sub-national security funding model, enabling the continuous provision of patrol vehicles, communication equipment, surveillance tools and operational support for security agencies operating in the state.

The party added that under Sanwo-Olu, Lagos has deepened its adoption of technology-enabled policing tools, including smart surveillance systems, traffic monitoring gadgets, crime-mapping platforms and digital early-warning mechanisms that support proactive threat detection.

This, it said, has contributed to the relative peace, economic vibrancy and social stability the state continues to enjoy despite its population density and complex urban landscape.

According to the statement, Lagos has also built a unique model of community engagement by integrating traditional rulers, community associations and civil society partners into a harmonised security network that strengthens trust and reinforces grassroots vigilance.

It added that coordination among the Police, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and federal intelligence units has created a seamless and efficient security response structure unmatched by any other state.

The APC noted that the state’s rapid emergency response capacity, anchored by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), further demonstrates the depth of Lagos’ preparedness, showcasing how a sub-national government can build a world-class framework for managing disasters, fire outbreaks, accidents and other emergencies.

The party said Lagos’ greatest advantage lies in its continuity of governance. With security policies sustained across administrations rather than discarded, the state has built institutional memory and a security ecosystem that can be easily expanded into a full-fledged State Police structure.

“With this tested model, there is no doubt that Lagos State is fully set and ready whenever the establishment of State Police eventually comes on board. Unlike states that are still debating concepts and structures, Lagos already operates a complementary, intelligence-driven security architecture that can be seamlessly scaled and formalised once constitutional provisions are activated,” the APC said.

“These achievements did not arise by chance. They are the fruits of sustained planning, deliberate investment, and the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who as Governor laid the fundamentals, and Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who continues to modernize and expand them in line with global best practices.”

While accusing opposition figures of attempting to weaponise national insecurity for political gain, the APC maintained that Lagos has chosen the path of responsibility, proving that a proactive sub-national government can shape its own security outcomes through vision, planning and political will.

It emphasised that Tinubu’s national security reforms complement Lagos’ long-standing model, making the state a reference point for effective federal–state synergy on security matters.

The statement urged other states to study and adapt the Lagos model, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges require strong local action backed by national coordination.

“Lagos leads. Others can follow. Nigeria will be better for it,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday boosted the state’s crime-fighting capacity with the donation of 100 operational vehicles to security agencies.

The vehicles were jointly procured by the Lagos State Government and Conference 57, the association of chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Sanwo-Olu made the presentation at the 19th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, organised by LSSTF, and held in Victoria Island.

The event had in attendance captains of industry, traditional rulers, political leaders, heads of security agencies, and representatives of the private sector.