Modern Surveillance Tools for Smarter Lagos Policing
By Shukurat Ibrahim
Policing Lagos has never been a routine assignment. Africa’s largest megacity is defined by dense traffic, rapid population growth, and constantly evolving crime patterns that stretch traditional law-enforcement methods to their limits. In such a complex environment, effectiveness depends not only on manpower, but on speed, intelligence, and the smart use of technology. Since his appointment as Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Moshood Olohundare Jimoh has increasingly positioned technology at the centre of his security strategy.
From the outset, Jimoh signalled a shift from reactive policing to a model driven by data, surveillance, and community partnership. His approach recognises a fundamental reality of modern urban security: in cities like Lagos, physical patrols alone are insufficient. Information, real-time visibility, and public trust now determine how quickly threats are identified and neutralised.
A major milestone in this transition came in mid-January 2026 with the activation of the Lagos State Police Command’s CCTV Surveillance Centre, widely referred to as the Control Room. Operating 24 hours a day, the facility enables real-time monitoring of Lagos Island and key transport corridors. Incidents can now be observed as they unfold, allowing officers to deploy patrol teams with precise, actionable intelligence. This development marked a clear break from incident-driven responses toward proactive intervention.
The Control Room did not emerge in isolation. In the months leading up to its launch, the Command had installed high-grade surveillance cameras at strategic locations across the metropolis. These cameras feed directly into central monitoring systems and divisional command units, reducing the lag between incident detection and operational response. For a city where minutes can make the difference between containment and chaos, this compression of decision-making time is significant.
Equally important has been the strengthening of internal communication infrastructure. Under Jimoh’s leadership, the Command upgraded its radio and digital communication networks, enabling seamless coordination across divisions and units. Reliable communication is the unseen backbone of effective policing, particularly in a sprawling city where fragmented information can derail even the best-planned operations.
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By May 2025, the Command intensified its focus on crimes that increasingly exploit digital spaces. Dedicated cybercrime units, supported by digital tracking and forensic tools, improved investigation and arrest outcomes. At the same time, technology was deployed to strengthen the response to sexual and gender-based violence, with digital evidence and surveillance data playing a growing role in case building. These efforts acknowledge a shift in criminal behaviour, where online platforms are now central theatres of crime.
Operational outcomes have followed. The Command has reported an average emergency response time of about five minutes, a feat made possible by improved digital dispatch systems and tighter coordination between units. Faster response not only limits harm during emergencies but also reinforces public confidence in the police as a responsive institution.
Technology has also been deployed beyond enforcement into prevention and public engagement. Through digital platforms, the Command has issued timely safety advisories warning residents about emerging threats, including online scams and so-called “virtual” kidnapping schemes. By sharing information proactively, the police reposition citizens as partners in security rather than passive recipients of enforcement.
Community trust remains a central pillar of Jimoh’s strategy. Regular stakeholder meetings and community dialogues have created channels for feedback and cooperation. One particularly notable directive addressed a long-standing public grievance: the unlawful search of mobile phones by officers in public spaces. By clearly instructing officers to desist from such practices, the Commissioner reinforced respect for digital privacy and citizens’ rights—an essential step in rebuilding trust in a technologically driven policing model.
Still, the turn toward digital policing exists within a broader conversation about police culture and accountability. Civil society organisations and independent media continue to scrutinise conduct, oversight, and the human impact of enforcement. Technology can enhance efficiency and transparency, but it cannot substitute for ethical behaviour or respect for the rule of law. Without these, innovation risks becoming a tool of control rather than protection.
From early 2025 to the present, CP Moshood Jimoh has placed technology at the heart of policing in Lagos. Surveillance systems, faster response times, strengthened cybercrime capacity, and proactive digital engagement now define the Command’s operational posture. His leadership reflects a broader evolution in urban security management—one that understands that in a megacity like Lagos, safety is secured not only by presence, but by intelligence.
The challenge ahead is sustainability. Technology must continue to evolve alongside clear accountability, professional conduct, and public trust. When innovation is matched with integrity, digital policing can become not just a modern convenience, but a durable foundation for security in Lagos.
Shukurat T. Ibrahim is a PRNigeria Fellow based in Ilorin.
