Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, rolled out a groundbreaking plan for the enhancement of security and safety in Lagos State. The Governor approved a mass training for the State’s law enforcement personnel on the use of body worn cameras, ahead of the deployment of the digital tools for security operations across the State.
The three-day
training, which will commence in May, will be facilitated by the State’s Law
Enforcement Training Institute (LETI), headed by Prince Oyekan Falade. After
the training, all State-funded law enforcement officers will be commissioned to
wear body cameras for their operations.
Sanwo-Olu said the
move would improve transparency and accountability in the activities of law
enforcement agencies, and put the State Government in a better position to
respond to security challenges in real time.
Provision of
adequate security, the Governor said, is a key pillar of his administration’s
T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda, stressing that the initiative reflected his Government’s
resolution to ensure Lagos remained secure for residents and investors.
He said: “I am
pleased to inaugurate the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers
in Lagos and this is a groundbreaking move to enhance safety in the State, as
well as increase transparency and accountability in the activities of our law enforcement
agencies. Lagos State has strategically set the pace among other States in
Nigeria to launch the use of body worn cameras by law enforcement officers.
“The security
challenges in different parts of the country are worrisome, but with proactive
action, the use of modern technological tools, and a mix of well-trained and
intelligent officers, we will successfully combat many of these challenges.
With body-worn cameras, our law enforcement officers are better equipped to
protect lives and properties, thereby, making Lagos safer for us all.”
Sanwo-Olu said the
launch of the body-worn cameras would take the Government a step closer towards
fulfilling its security agenda, stressing that the introduction of devices to
frontline security team and officers would enhance their productivity and
professionalism, while also fast-tracking law enforcement process.
The cameras, the
Governor pointed out, will help the State Government check abuse of power and
excesses by security personnel, while also improving the safety and
accountability of officers, who will use the devices for evidence sharing and
intelligence gathering.
“I am hopeful that
all officers will optimise the cameras that will be assigned to them for the
furtherance of justice and improvement of the law enforcement process. Our
Government will continue to prioritise the welfare of our law enforcement officers
whose pivotal efforts we acknowledge in the entrenchment of a safe city,”
Sanwo-Olu said.
Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Khadijat Shittabey, applauded the
Governor for approving the initiative, stressing that the body worn cameras
would help the ministry in the administration of justice.
She said: “The
cameras will also help to enhance professionalism on the part of the law
enforcement agents, provide digital evidence of events and provide additional
means of protection for officers. The cameras will be used to establish guilt
or innocence of officers when confronted with allegations of wrongdoing.”
Falade, after
demonstrating the operation of the camera on the Governor, said 7,000 officers
will be trained in the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA),
Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and
the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).
The training, LETI
boss disclosed, will be done in 26 batches to reduce crowding of the training
centre.
LETI was established in 2013 through an
Executive Order, to set standards for recruitment of law enforcement agents,
training and development of the officers.
