The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared the state’s long-standing security strategy as the “gold standard” for sub-national security management in Nigeria, crediting two decades of uninterrupted progressive governance for the results.
In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the APC said Lagos continues to demonstrate how purposeful leadership, strategic investment, and sustained political will can curb insecurity and maintain stability, even as national and regional security threats evolve.
Oladejo said the Lagos Security Vision—initiated under then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expanded by successive administrations up to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu—has delivered a multi-layered security system rooted in intelligence, collaboration, and community engagement. This, he said, explains why the state has remained relatively peaceful despite its population density and economic size.
According to the APC, several pillars underpin what it described as Lagos’ model security architecture. These include the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), created during Tinubu’s tenure, which it said remains the country’s most effective sub-national security funding framework. Through transparent public-private support, the fund has equipped security agencies with patrol vehicles, communication gadgets, surveillance tools and other operational resources.
The party also highlighted Sanwo-Olu’s expansion of smart-city security solutions, including surveillance cameras, digital crime-mapping tools, traffic monitoring systems and early-warning mechanisms. These, it said, have strengthened the ability of security agencies to anticipate threats rather than merely respond to them.
Oladejo further credited Lagos with building seamless operational coordination among the Police, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), LASTMA, the FRSC, the Armed Forces, Civil Defence Corps and federal intelligence units—resulting in faster response times and fewer operational gaps.
Oladejo also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) for building what he described as a world-class rapid-response system capable of handling disasters, accidents, and emergencies “with speed and professionalism.”
Oladejo attributed the evolution of the security framework to sustained planning and investment, starting with Tinubu—now President—and continued by Sanwo-Olu, who he said has modernised the system in line with global standards.
He added that while President Tinubu implements national security reforms, Lagos remains a reference point for effective sub-national preparedness.
The APC called on other states to “study, adopt, and adapt” the Lagos model, saying Nigeria’s security challenges require both local action and national coordination.
