Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to support his administration’s drive to sustain security of lives and property through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).
He made the appeal during a private breakfast meeting with selected Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of various companies in Ikoyi. The event, organised by the LSSTF, was aimed at raising funds to meet critical security needs for 2026.
Among the priorities listed were the acquisition of multipurpose security helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and water cannons, tactical training and infrastructure upgrades for the police, digital communication equipment, smart CCTV cameras, patrol vehicles, and an ultra-modern mechanical workshop.
Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that past contributions to the Trust Fund had been judiciously utilised to strengthen security agencies and maintain a safe environment in Lagos. He added that the LSSTF model has since been adopted by other states and even at the federal level.
“On a year-on-year basis, the Lagos State Government has never taken a back seat in its responsibility. We fund well over 50 per cent of security interventions annually. But we also want a model the private sector can trust—one that guarantees transparency and accountability in the use of funds,” he said.
The governor disclosed that the state is rebuilding its Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment and expanding its Safe City initiative, including the installation of thousands of CCTV cameras across Lagos. He stressed the need to improve the rescue capacity and responsiveness of first responders.
Addressing recent protests over demolitions in parts of Makoko, Sanwo-Olu said the government’s actions were taken in the public interest, citing the dangers posed by shanties encroaching on the Third Mainland Bridge and high-tension power lines. He maintained that the intervention was necessary to prevent potential disasters and loss of lives.
He also reaffirmed that the government’s intention is not to displace residents unjustly but to protect them. He referenced the relocation of the Okobaba sawmill operators to Agbowa, where the state built over 500 housing units and provided infrastructure, as an example of responsible intervention.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed plans to commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools in the Tolu community of Ajegunle, which will accommodate about 22,000 students. He emphasised that while addressing development challenges, the state remains committed to ensuring security and creating an enabling environment that attracts and sustains investment in Lagos.
