Lagos to procure helicopters, drones as Sanwo-Olu appeals for security funds
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said his administration plans to procure helicopters and drones to strengthen security operations in the state, as he appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to support the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).
The governor made the appeal on Friday during a private breakfast meeting with selected managing directors and chief executive officers of various companies, organised by the LSSTF in Ikoyi, Lagos, to raise funds for critical security needs for 2026.
Sanwo-Olu said the proposed procurement of multipurpose security helicopters and drones is part of a broader plan to enhance surveillance, rapid response and the overall capacity of security agencies. Other items to be acquired include armoured personnel carriers (APCs), water cannons, digital communication equipment, smart CCTV cameras, vehicles and an ultra-modern mechanical workshop, as well as tactical training and infrastructural upgrades for the police.
“On a year-on-year basis, the Lagos State Government has never taken a back seat on its responsibility. We fund well over 50 per cent of our security needs, but we want the private sector to trust that their support is judiciously used, with accountability and transparency in the deployment of all funds,” the governor said.
He noted that previous interventions by the LSSTF had been effectively utilised to strengthen security agencies, adding that the trust fund model has since been adopted by other subnational and federal governments.
The governor disclosed that the state is rebuilding its Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment and expanding CCTV installations under the Safe City initiative, stressing the need to scale up surveillance infrastructure across Lagos. Sanwo-Olu also affirmed that his administration is focused on improving the capacity and effectiveness of first responders to ensure the continued safety of lives and property.
Commenting on recent protests over demolitions in parts of Makoko, the governor said the government’s actions were taken in the public interest due to safety concerns linked to informal settlements located close to the Third Mainland Bridge and high-tension power lines.
The governor further disclosed plans to commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools with a combined capacity of about 22,000 students in the Tolu community of Ajegunle next month, and highlighted the resolution of the long-standing Okobaba sawmill issue through the relocation of operators to Agbowa.
