Lagos traffic officers to use body-worn cameras

Traffic officers in Lagos are soon to start using body-worn cameras to enhance their job, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave this indication on Wednesday.

He said the gadget would be launched in due course among the state’s security personnel outfits involved the management of traffic enforcement.

He spoke about the idea at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu, who said the plan was for the enhancement of security and safety state, announced the approval of a training programme for the state’s law enforcement personnel on the use of body-worn cameras, ahead of the deployment of the gadgets for security operations across the state.

He said the three-day training commencing in May would 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 would be commissioned to use the cameras for their operations, he said.

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.

He said the provision of adequate security was 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 said, would 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, commended 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, who demonstrated the operation of the camera on the governor, said 7,000 officers would 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).

She added that the training would be done in 26 batches to avert overcrowding at the training centre.