Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday convened the 19th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, using the high-profile gathering to underscore that protecting Africa’s largest city can no longer rest on government shoulders alone — and to unveil a sweeping package of security investments aimed at modernizing the state’s crime-fighting apparatus.
Organized by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, the event brought together security chiefs, corporate representatives, students, and traditional and religious leaders to review the state’s security performance and outline strategies for a safer Lagos. New Telegraph The meeting carried the theme “Building Trust, Enhancing Security: A New Era of Security and Partnerships.”
High-Level Participation
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu served as the chief host. Dignitaries in attendance included: Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun,
Lagos State Commissioner of Police Oluhundare Jimoh
LSSTF Executive Secretary/CEO Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan
LSSTF Board Chairman Mr. Kehinde Durosimi-Etti.
Ministers (including Dr. Tunji Alausa)
Captains of industry (such as Alhaji Aliko Dangote)
Heads of security formations
Representatives from financial institutions
Traditional and religious leaders
Students and other stakeholders
The broad participation underscored the multi-stakeholder approach to security.
Vehicles, Drones, And A New Headquarters
In perhaps the most tangible demonstration of the administration’s commitment, Governor Sanwo-Olu handed over 100 operational vehicles to security agencies, jointly procured by the Lagos State Government and Conference 57, representing the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas. The governor also cited LSSTF investments that include the deployment of 260 new patrol vehicles, drones for aerial surveillance, and video-surveillance cameras at strategic locations across the megacity.
In the last four weeks alone, we received retail donations worth about ₦38 million,” he said, signaling the Fund’s ambition to make security financing a civic habit.
In a major institutional announcement, Sanwo-Olu disclosed plans by philanthropist Sir Kensington Adebutu to build a brand-new, purpose-built headquarters for the LSSTF, to be completed and commissioned within 12 months. The facility is to be named after Sir Kessington Adebutu in honor of his philanthropy and contribution to public safety. The LSSTF has operated without a permanent office since its establishment in 2007.
₦1.8 Billion Raised In One Year
The event’s financial disclosures signaled robust private-sector buy-in. LSSTF Executive Secretary Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan announced that the Fund received a total of ₦1,848,406,100 in donations while spending ₦1,770,543,613.81 on security interventions between November 2024 and November 2025. Ogunsan credited the state’s relative security to a combination of modern infrastructure, personnel training, and deepened public-private collaboration. He also announced a push to broaden the donor base beyond corporations. “In the last four weeks alone, we received retail donations worth about ₦38 million,” he said, signaling the Fund’s ambition to make security financing a civic habit. He reaffirmed that under his leadership, transparency would be the standard, not the exception, pledging to strengthen oversight, publish regular updates, and enhance communication with stakeholders.
Police Report: 9,275 Arrests, 152 Murders In 12 Months
Lagos State Commissioner of Police Jimoh Olohundare presented the security report covering October 2024 to September 2025, disclosing that the command recorded 152 murder cases, arrested 9,275 miscreants, and recovered 518 rounds of ammunition within the period. The command also foiled 141 armed robbery cases during the review period. Olohundare said the figures reflected the impact of intelligence-led policing and enhanced patrol capabilities made possible through LSSTF-funded equipment.
Gallantry Awards For Ladipo Kidnappers’ Operation
Awards of Gallantry were presented to officers of the state’s special squad in Ikeja for their role in a successful July 4, 2024 operation in Ladipo, Lagos, which led to the neutralization of nine notorious kidnappers and the recovery of weapons and operational assets. The governor commended the officers for their professionalism and urged continued dedication, transparency, and compassion in service.
A Shared Covenant
Governor Sanwo-Olu framed the gathering not merely as an annual accountability exercise but as a reaffirmation of a social contract between the state and its residents. “This town hall meeting is a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to safeguarding lives, properties, investments and the future of Lagos,” he said. “It is an affirmation that the security of this state is not solely the responsibility of the government but a shared duty — a covenant between government, the private sector, communities, and every resident of this city.”
He also connected the state’s security agenda to the broader national framework, noting that Lagos’ progress is reinforced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places security at the center of Nigeria’s economic revitalization. LSSTF Board Chairman Kehinde Durosimi-Etti echoed the call for wider participation. “We encourage well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations, the private sector, students and youths to contribute. Securing Lagos, and indeed Nigeria, requires all hands on deck,” he said.
The LSSTF, established by the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2007 as a public-private partnership, was created to source resources from corporate organizations and individuals to support security agencies with crime-fighting equipment. It is widely regarded as the first institution of its kind in Nigeria and has since served as a model for other states.