The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has urged top chief executive officers in Nigeria’s financial and corporate sectors to scale up their support for the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), saying the state must now embark on an ambitious upgrade of its security architecture built heavily around intelligence, surveillance, and rapid-response technology.
Speaking at LSSTF-Organised private breakfast meeting with Gov. Sanwo-Olu for Bank CEOs and industry leaders in Lagos, the Governor said Lagos cannot afford security complacency at a time when global and domestic threats are becoming more complex. He noted that the LSSTF model based on transparency, joint ownership, and year-on-year accountability remains central to the state’s ability to consistently maintain relative safety.
“We have built one of the strongest public-private security partnerships anywhere in Africa,” Sanwo-Olu said. “For almost two decades, the LSSTF has shown that when government and the private sector work together with transparency and consistency, you get real results. But we must now move to the next stage. Lagos is bigger, busier, and more exposed than ever, and our security infrastructure must reflect that reality.”
The Governor explained that Lagos is currently overhauling its Command and Control Centre originally built over 15 years ago and migrating it into a more sophisticated nerve centre capable of integrating thousands of CCTV feeds, emergency calls, and multi-agency field operations in real time.
“Our Command centre has served Lagos well for over a decade, but technology has evolved,” he said. “We are rebuilding it into a state-of-the-art operations hub that can support modern surveillance tools, digital tracking systems, and faster coordination. This is essential for the Lagos of today.”
He revealed that while the state initially planned to deploy between 5,000 and 10,000 CCTV cameras, fewer than 1,000 are currently installed due to technological and funding limitations.
“We need to scale up massively,” the Governor stressed. “Cameras have become as important as patrol vehicles. They help us see, track, and respond before situations escalate. Lagos must not fall behind.”
Sanwo-Olu said the state is also strengthening its aerial surveillance capacity through a mix of helicopters, drones, and marine monitoring devices to enable faster emergency response, search-and-rescue operations, and monitoring of emerging high-density and waterfront communities.
“In today’s world, drones are not luxury tools, they are essential assets,” he noted. “We are working with Nigerian innovators to build drone systems tailored for Lagos. If global investors can fund local tech talent, we have no excuse not to support them ourselves.”
The Governor emphasized that security funding cannot be left solely to the government, noting that the private sector stands to gain the most from a stable, secure Lagos. “Security is the backbone of investment,” he said. “Your banks, your offices, your personnel, your assets, they all depend on a safe operating environment. We are doing our part, but we need your support to expand the tools and technology that keep Lagos safe.”
Sanwo-Olu added that Lagos currently funds more than half of the state’s overall security expenditure, providing vehicles, communication tools, protective gear, and logistics support to the Nigeria Police, military formations, FRSC, NDLEA, NSCDC and other agencies.
“The Lagos State Government has never taken the back seat,” he said. “But security challenges today require greater intelligence capabilities, more surveillance infrastructure, and better mobility equipment. This is where your contributions make the difference.”
He also pointed to the growing skyline of Lagos, with more than seventeen skyscrapers buildings coming in the State, and the expanding population as urgent reasons to invest in new-generation tools. “How do we secure these new developments without stronger surveillance? How do we protect millions of residents without better intelligence systems?” he asked. “The future of Lagos depends on the investments we make now.”
The Governor again introduced the newly appointed Executive Secretary/CEO of the LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, describing him as “a reliable and committed security professional who understands both the operational and strategic needs of the Fund.”
Gov. Sanwo-Olu praised the continuity of the LSSTF Board, noting that its stability and adherence to transparent reporting have sustained credibility for nearly two decades. “Every year, independent auditors and the public are able to see exactly how the Fund is run,” he said. “That level of accountability is why partners keep supporting us.”
Sanwo-Olu concluded by reaffirming that Lagos’ future as a global economic hub rests on the foundation of safety. “Our goal is simple,” he said. “We want a Lagos that is safe, resilient, and globally competitive. To achieve this, we need to deepen our investments in surveillance, intelligence, and rapid response. This is not just government business, it is a shared commitment. Let us secure tomorrow together.”
Earlier on his part, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan noted that private sector-led funding is vital for the security funding agency, LSSTF to achieve its mandate in this New Year. He cited that virtually all security agencies in Lagos now look towards the Agency for support, but it will only meet those needs when it gets the private sector to own the security agenda in Lagos. He listed some of the critical security needs for 2026 to include multipurpose security helicopters and drones, APCs and water cannons, digital communication equipment, and smart CCTV cameras. Others are tactical training and infrastructural upgrades for the Police, operational vehicles, and ultramodern mechanical workshops.
Ogunsan calls for more contributions to the funding agency, “Security is not a cost to business. It is a risk mitigation strategy and a business enabler. A security risk translates to uninterrupted operations, protected assets, investor confidence, stable supply chains, and a vibrant social environment where talent and capital are attracted and retained. Every contribution to Lagos state security trust fund is deployed transparently and strategically based on clearly identified operational needs and approval by a predominantly private sector-led board. Your support directly strengthens the capacity of those charged with protecting the very environment in which your businesses operate.”
Meanwhile, the LSSTF’s CEO thanked the governor for his remarkable support to the agency, “May I also say that Mr. Governor has contributed immensely to providing most of the items I’ve enumerated, and we must thank him for that. He has consistently supported us. But we just need to do more. We need to do more so that we keep the state running, and that’s why we have come to you.”
