The Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps, LNSC, has intensified its grassroots and waterway security operations across the state as part of proactive measures to ensure a peaceful Yuletide season and curb criminal activities.
Speaking during a high-level security meeting convened by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the General Manager of the LNSC, Prince Ifalade Oyekan, said the agency had commenced early deployment of officers since September, in anticipation of increased social and economic activities associated with the festive period.
Oyekan described the LNSC as a community-based security outfit, noting that neighborhood officers are strategically positioned within residential areas to ensure close surveillance and rapid response.
According to him, officers are deployed in such a way that residents encounter security presence within close proximity, strengthening trust, intelligence gathering, and real-time reporting of incidents at the grassroots.
He disclosed that more than 7,000 LNSC officers are currently on ground across the state, with deployments guided by activity levels and security needs in each division.
Areas experiencing increased social or commercial activities during the festive season receive reinforcements from divisions with relatively lower activity, a strategy aimed at preventing security gaps while maximising available manpower.
The LNSC boss said the agency operates a dynamic deployment system, allowing officers to be temporarily redeployed to high-risk or high-traffic locations during peak periods, after which they return to their original posts. This, he said, ensures effective coverage without compromising security in other parts of the state.
Beyond land-based operations, Oyekan revealed that the LNSC has extended surveillance to Lagos waterways, which he described as a critical but often overlooked security front. He noted that criminal activities on the waterways can be more severe than those on land, necessitating constant monitoring of creeks and coastal communities.
To address this, the agency has deployed drones and patrol vessels to monitor water routes, observe suspicious movements, and relay intelligence for timely intervention. Reports from these operations, he said, are regularly escalated to the Office of the SSG and the Governor’s security team for necessary action.
Oyekan further disclosed that the state government has approved the recruitment of an additional 2,700 neighborhood officers to strengthen the agency’s operational capacity. The recruitment, he said, reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to strengthening community policing and ensuring that security agencies stay ahead of evolving threats.
He stressed that the LNSC’s strength lies in its familiarity with local terrain and community dynamics, enabling officers to anticipate security challenges unique to each locality, especially during festive periods characterised by increased movement, alcohol consumption, and social gatherings.
The LNSC boss assured residents that the agency remains committed to maintaining safety and order throughout the Yuletide and beyond, urging citizens to cooperate with neighborhood officers and promptly report suspicious activities to enhance collective security across Lagos State.