President of Team Nigeria for Change, Bestman Jumbo, has praised Lagos State’s security improvements while urging sustained job creation and community-based strategies to address lingering challenges.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Jumbo, who is also the publisher of Eko Mii Eko E and Managing Director/CEO of Image Expressions Limited, noted that the state has recorded significant progress in reducing crimes such as bank robberies and street gang activities, thanks to targeted interventions by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
According to him, a major security concern remains the influx of undocumented migrants from neighbouring West African countries, which can lead to cross-border crimes often misattributed to Nigerian groups.
“Security has improved in Lagos. I can’t remember the last time we heard of area boys snatching a car or committing a bank robbery. Whether we like it or not, Lagosians are better for it,” Jumbo stated.
He advocated for stronger collaboration between states on security, similar to the partnerships Lagos has established in agriculture, and stressed that unemployment and illiteracy remain root causes of crime.
On community policing, Jumbo expressed caution about state police but endorsed Lagos’s “alternative security” model, which integrates reformed youths into intelligence gathering and neighbourhood safety roles.
“These teams secure their communities and provide intelligence to the police. It has drastically reduced crimes like road hijacking in traffic,” he explained.
Speaking further, Jumbo lauded Lagos as a model for inclusive governance, citing the appointment of non-indigenes and women into senior government roles.
He credited the state’s approach to fostering unity among different ethnic and political groups.
“In Lagos public service, you’ll find directors, commissioners, and even a Deputy Chief of Staff from outside the state. Religion and tribe don’t determine governance here,” he said, predicting that this inclusivity would remain sustainable under future administrations.
