Magoh clara
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, has renewed his call for the establishment of state police, saying Lagos’ experience with community based security initiatives shows the importance of bringing policing closer to the people.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Thursday while delivering the seventh annual lecture of Freedom Online at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja.
The lecture, themed “2027 Elections: Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future,” focused on some of the major security and political challenges facing the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor cited the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, established in 2007, and the Neighbourhood Safety Corps as examples of how state and community-based structures could complement conventional policing.
According to him, security is more effective when communities have a direct relationship with those responsible for protecting them and can hold them accountable.
Sanwo-Olu argued that the debate over state policing should move beyond political theory, noting that Lagos had accumulated almost two decades of experience with community oriented security initiatives.
He, however, acknowledged that establishing state police would require amendments to the Nigerian Constitution, involving both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
The governor also warned that insecurity could affect the 2027 elections by limiting political campaigns, disrupting the movement of electoral officials and materials, and discouraging voters from participating.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to begin preparing for possible security challenges ahead of the elections rather than waiting until the election period.
Sanwo-Olu further called on lawmakers who would emerge from the 2027 elections to complete the constitutional process required for the establishment of state policing.
