Damenews 
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Adegoke Fayoade, has made a case for more Police officers to be drafted to the Command in addition to creating more divisional police headquarters in the state. This, according to him, is to meet the United Nation’s standard of one policeman to 400 hundred citizens, and also contend with the geometric increase of Lagos population, noting that crime and criminality has reduced to the barest minimum since he became CP.
The Lagos CP made this assertion while receiving a former Commissioner of Police of the state, who is now the Deputy Inspector-General of Police of charge of the FCID, and the Southwest in general, DIG Alabi during an elaborate occasion which the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) attended.
Read his speech in part:
It gives me great delight today to have the opportunity to welcome my Oga, the quintessential, cerebral and pragmatic DIG FCID, who doubles as the DIG in charge of south west. When I look back at About 30 years ago when we both started policing in Abia state, We have every reason to give glory to the Almighty God who in his infinite mercy saw us this far. Our distinguished Guest was the 37th Commissioner of Police, in this great state which remains the melting point of many Nigerians, the center of excellence, state of aquatic splendor and the economic hub of Nigeria, the west African sub region and indeed Africa.
The Lagos State Police Command was created in May, 1967 with four (4) area commands and twenty-two (22) Divisions. It was meant to cater for a population of barely over two million people. However, as the state continue to grow is size, population and status, the Command on the other hand, equally witnessed a corresponding growth in structure and manpower. The command can presently boast of fourteen (14) Area Commands, One Hundred and Ten (110) divisional headquarters, Eighty-Six (86) Police posts with a total staff strength of Eighteen Thousand and Ninety Six (18,096) personnel to cater for the security needs of Lagos State. It is important and necessary to point out that the state is in dire need of more policemen and more divisional Police Headquarters, to meet the United Nation’s standard of 1 policeman to 400 hundred citizens and contend with the geometric increase of Lagos population.
To achieve the desired socio-economic development and usher in a new dawn of opportunities for our people, the issue of insecurity. Which constitutes serious threat to lives and property, hinders business activities and discourage local and foreign investors, stifles and retards socio-economic development need to be tackled with passion and unwavering commitment.
It is however gratifying to note that since the introduction of people centered, collaborative and co-operative, crime prevention strategies by the dynamic and tireless commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Crime and criminal activities in this area and indeed Lagos State has reduced drastically to a tolerable level. The strategies adopted include;
a. Prevention strategies e.g. (Intelligence raids of criminal hideouts, cordon and search) etc.
b. Intelligence led policing.
c. Use of modern technology device(s) (scientific aid) to track down dangerous criminals e.g. Kidnappers, Armed robbers, car hijackers etc.
d. Extensive and Intensive Patrol
e. Community Policing Strategy.
f. Stop and Search
g. Accessibility/Visibility Policing.
h. Robust/synergy and Collaboration with other Security Agencies.
i. Synergy with other relevant institution/department (security stack holders).
j. Community partnership and engage with all segment of the society – PCRC,CDA, Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Hunters, VSO/VGN, formal and informal security outfit, etc.
k. Intelligence led policing. Emphasis is on using intelligence gathered from various sources as guide to our operation. Monthly meeting with all stakeholders, such as CDAs, Traditional Rulers, Baales, Fishermen, unions leader, Hunters, VSO/VGN, NGO/Press groups, Students, Leaders, Community Heads, Corporate Organization etc. both at Command and divisional level have assisted on intelligence gathering and effective collaboration in the safety and security of the Lagos and its environs.
In addition to various strategies put in place, the command equally engaged in capacity building by training and re-training of our personnel to meet with and counter the growing sophistication of criminality in the command. The society is dynamic, thus, the modus of our crime prevention must and should be dynamic and responsive and equipped enough to meet with the changing security challenges facing us.
The emerging or common crime here, such as cultism, traffic robbery, one chance robbery, kidnapping etc have all been fought to stand still due to our tenacity of purpose and mutually beneficial collaboration and co-operation with the members of the public and other arms of the criminal justice system. Our alternative dispute resolution approach to issues is also yielding result. We have used this approach to solve many issues that could have snowballed into big crises. We have improved the standard of policing here by making policing more accessible, visible, available, compassionate, problem solving and by ensuring strict observance of police policies and procedure and adherence to International Human Right standard of law enforcement. Indeed, the constitutional rights of all citizens as contained in chapter IV S33 – 42 of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, such as rights to life, dignity of human personal liberty, fair hearing are held in high esteem etc. We are guided by the needs and concerns of everybody in our communities, recognize and encourage our officers and men to boost their morale, respect and protect human rights and co-operate with other security agencies, all stake holder’s and political authority in order to achieve a safe and secure Lagos and its environs.
It is gratifying to inform the DIG that since my assumption of duty and with the support of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, phd, npm, The executive Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, stakeholders and all the good people of Lagos State, that the Command was able to fully implement various crime prevention strategies and use of modern techniques, indice of crimes, such as, armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism et al, which hitherto are expected to be on the rise, are now on the decrease. On behalf of the officers and men of the Command, I wish to re-assure my Deputy Inspector-General of Police that, the current tempo in crime fighting shall be sustained until the state is ride of all criminal elements.
