Lagos strengthens community policing, boosts neighbourhood security operations

Lagos State Government on Monday said the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, LNSA, had strengthened grassroots security and community policing operations across the state through improved operational capacity, intelligence gathering and collaboration with security agencies.

Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, spoke during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, while presenting the scorecard of agencies under the ministry.

The commissioner described the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency as a community-based para-military organisation established to assist the police and other security agencies in maintaining law and order, preventing crime and ensuring safety within local communities across Lagos State.

According to him, the agency intensified capacity-building programmes for officers to improve operational competence and strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering across communities.

Oyerinde disclosed that the United States Ambassador visited the agency during the review period to explore possible areas of support and collaboration in community policing and neighbourhood security management.

He added that officials from the United States Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, also visited the headquarters of the agency as part of efforts to deepen cooperation in tackling security challenges and human trafficking.

The commissioner said the agency also strengthened collaboration and operational synergy with other security agencies in Lagos to improve coordinated responses to incidents and threats within communities.

According to him, the operational efficiency of the agency improved significantly following enhanced logistics and equipment support provided by the state government.

Oyerinde explained that the upgraded operational tools had strengthened patrol activities, surveillance operations and emergency response efficiency among neighbourhood safety officers across the state.

He noted that officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps continued to support emergency response operations and maintain visible security presence in communities across Lagos.

The commissioner also highlighted welfare interventions introduced by the Sanwo-Olu administration for security personnel, including a two-stage increase in allowances approved within the last three years.

He disclosed that additional security gadgets were distributed to officers to improve operational effectiveness and strengthen field operations statewide.

Oyerinde further stated that officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps benefited from the state’s First Responders’ Medical Clinics initiative designed to provide healthcare support, occupational health services and emergency medical interventions for frontline security personnel.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening community policing, improving neighbourhood security and promoting safer communities through stronger collaboration among residents, local security structures and law enforcement agencies.