The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has announced a bold new strategy to combat the complex security challenges facing Africa's fastest-growing megacity. Under its newly appointed Executive Secretary and CEO, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, the Fund is pivoting towards innovation, expanded public participation, and stronger accountability to make the state safer for all residents.
A Modern, Collaborative Approach to Security
Dr. Ogunsan, speaking with journalists over the weekend, emphasized that traditional security methods are no longer sufficient. He stated that the Fund's new agenda is built on embracing modern, intelligence-driven solutions. "Traditional methods alone are not enough. We must embrace innovation, strengthen collaboration, and ensure our response to emerging security challenges is swift, modern, and people-centered," he declared.
Central to this new direction is a commitment to transparency and public confidence. Ogunsan pledged that under his leadership, "transparency will be the standard, not the exception." The Fund plans to strengthen oversight, publish regular updates, and enhance communication with all stakeholders to build trust.
Engaging Every Lagosian: From N500 Donations to Expert Skills
A key pillar of the new strategy is significantly broadening public involvement. The LSSTF will soon launch a renewed retail donation campaign designed to allow every Lagos resident, regardless of income, to contribute. "Whether it is N500 or N50 million, what matters most is participation," Ogunsan explained.
Beyond financial contributions, the Fund is actively calling for donations of expertise. Ogunsan invited professionals in technology, cybersecurity, engineering, data science, psychology, criminology, and emergency response to lend their skills and equipment to the state's security architecture. "To innovators, researchers, engineers, and specialists, Lagos needs your knowledge," he appealed.
The initiative also includes plans for digital donation platforms, youth-focused volunteer programmes, and deeper community engagement to harness the energy of young people in building a safer state.
Upcoming Town Hall and Response to Media Concerns
To deepen stakeholder engagement, Ogunsan announced that the 19th Town Hall Meeting on Security will hold on December 11, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The event will feature the presentation of the Fund's stewardship reports, insights on emerging crime trends from the Commissioner of Police, and the unveiling of strategic security priorities by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
During the briefing, journalists raised practical concerns, urging the LSSTF to address persistent electricity challenges in police stations with solar power solutions, collaborate with landlords to install CCTV cameras for neighbourhood surveillance, and reactivate non-functional police station phone lines for emergency communication.
In response, the Administration Director of LSSTF, Adegbola Lewis, clarified the Fund's mandate as an interventionist body. "We're at interventionist stages. Our intention is not to take care of all the funding... We're not the Federal Government," he stated. He explained that the Fund focuses on identifying critical gaps in the general security architecture—not VIP protection—and working to fill them to ensure safety for every citizen.
Dr. Ogunsan concluded with a vision of a secure and prosperous Lagos: "When security grows, prosperity grows. When safety strengthens, confidence returns. When we work together, Lagos rises." The ultimate goal, he reaffirmed, is a state where children go to school without fear, businesses operate day and night, and every resident lives with peace of mind.
