During its last executive meeting, the Lagos City Council approved a motion expressing displeasure and indignation over the delay by the government, especially the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in approving the video surveillance system planned for implementation in the municipality.
The municipality formally initiated the process two years ago, working closely with the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR), which promptly submitted it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for review and approval.
Despite efforts and contacts with the government and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the municipality “has not yet received approval for the installation of the proposed video surveillance system, facing another peak tourist season without CCTV implementation, a situation exacerbated by the insufficient human resources available to security forces to carry out their mission year-round,” the city government stated in a press release.
While not replacing the role and work of law enforcement officers, the CCTV implementation measure is regarded as a support resource to: enhance the safety of people and property in monitored areas; protect the safety of the local population, including tourists and visitors; prevent and deter criminal activities and other risky behaviours; facilitate the identification of individuals for potential criminal liability; and help improve the conditions needed for effective civil protection operations.
“Its installation depends on compliance with legal requirements that have been properly taken into account by the municipality, and the final approval decision lies outside the municipal jurisdiction,” the same document further states.
The municipality of Lagos “will inform the entities responsible for and involved in the decision of the content of this motion, in the hope that this initiative will help unblock the process,” the statement concludes.
