Ogundipe Calls for Community-Led Security, Urges Agege Residents to Partner with Security Agencies
The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information Strategy and Security, Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, has called for stronger community participation in security management, urging residents to work closely with government institutions and security agencies to prevent crime and protect lives and property.
Ogundipe made the call while presenting a paper titled “Secure the Unsecured: Empowering Local Communities to Own Their Safety” at the Agege Community Security Summit, themed “Building Safer Communities Through Strategic Partnerships.”
He stressed that security should not be regarded solely as the responsibility of government and law enforcement agencies, arguing that residents possess valuable local knowledge that can help identify emerging threats and improve early-warning systems.
According to him, residents are often the first to notice unusual movements, suspicious activities, unsafe locations and emerging conflicts in their neighbourhoods. He said such information could strengthen crime prevention when reported promptly through legitimate channels.
The lawmaker maintained that effective security requires a shift from reactive responses to proactive measures that address vulnerabilities before they escalate into major incidents.
He identified poor street lighting, abandoned buildings, inadequate emergency communication, weak community-security relationships, youth unemployment and delayed reporting of suspicious activities as factors that could undermine community safety.
He therefore called for a comprehensive security framework that combines professional law enforcement with public awareness, environmental improvements, responsible information-sharing and coordinated community action.
“Community participation is not an alternative to formal security structures; it is an essential complement to them,” he stated in his presentation.
Ogundipe also warned against misinformation, mob justice and vigilantism, urging residents to report concerns to competent authorities rather than conduct their own investigations or circulate unverified allegations.
To strengthen grassroots security, the lawmaker proposed five practical pillars: understanding local security risks, establishing trusted reporting channels, developing lawful community safety teams, investing in young people and deploying technology responsibly.
He recommended that communities undertake safety audits to identify poorly lit streets, vulnerable locations, abandoned structures and unsafe routes, using the findings to develop community safety maps and prioritise interventions.
He also advocated structured safety committees that would facilitate public education, emergency preparedness, conflict prevention and liaison with security agencies without operating as parallel law enforcement organisations.
On technology, Ogundipe called for the responsible use of CCTV, emergency communication platforms, incident-reporting systems and geographic mapping to support security planning, while emphasising the importance of privacy, accountability and public trust.
The lawmaker emphasised that sustainable security must address the social and economic conditions that can expose young people to criminal exploitation.
He called for expanded access to vocational training, entrepreneurship, digital skills, mentorship, sports and employment opportunities, describing youth empowerment as both an economic intervention and a security strategy.
He further urged stakeholders to recognise the contributions of women in community safety planning, particularly in addressing domestic vulnerabilities, child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, and other threats affecting families and neighbourhoods.
Schools, parents, transport operators, community leaders and security agencies were also urged to strengthen cooperation to protect children and improve safety around educational institutions.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Ogundipe identified government institutions, security agencies, local councils, traditional rulers, religious organisations, community development associations, businesses, schools, women and youth groups as essential stakeholders in grassroots security.
He encouraged religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence and responsible communication, while urging businesses to support interventions such as improved lighting, surveillance infrastructure and emergency-response logistics.
The lawmaker also called for greater attention to environmental security, noting that poorly maintained public spaces, obstructed access roads and abandoned buildings can create vulnerabilities and delay emergency responses.
Moving beyond advocacy, Ogundipe proposed establishing a Community Security Coordination Forum, conducting community safety audits, strengthening emergency-reporting protocols and creating youth-focused security and development programmes.
Other recommendations included improving environmental safety, expanding public education through town halls, schools, radio and community platforms, and introducing measurable indicators to track progress.
He suggested monitoring response times, safety interventions, infrastructure improvements, community meetings, appropriately referred reports and the number of young people reached through empowerment programmes.
According to him, the success of the summit should be measured not by the quality of speeches delivered but by the practical actions taken afterwards.
In a special appeal to Agege residents and stakeholders, Ogundipe proposed a Community Security Compact that would define the responsibilities of government, security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, businesses, schools, women, youth groups and residents.
He said the framework should establish clear reporting lines, emergency communication procedures, accountability measures and mechanisms for evaluating progress.
He maintained that security must become a continuous process of cooperation rather than an activity limited to occasional meetings following major incidents.
Concluding his presentation, the lawmaker reiterated that safer communities depend on shared responsibility, responsible intelligence reporting, public trust and sustained preventive action.
He called on residents to move from fear to preparedness, reaction to prevention, and isolation to coordination, stressing that communities must become active partners in protecting their streets, schools, markets, homes and livelihoods.
“A safer Lagos is built when the government, security institutions and communities stand together,” he stated.
