The Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening youth-police relations through sustained dialogue, civic engagement and rights education, describing collaboration with young people as essential to enhancing community safety.
The commitment was reiterated at the Political Intelligence Summit on Youth-Police Engagement, jointly organised by the Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement (OPL&CE) and the Lagos State Bureau of the Public Defender (BPD) at the Zone 2 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Onikan, Lagos.
The summit, themed “Bridging the Gap: Youth-Police Engagement for Community Safety and Social Reform,” brought together youth organisations, security agencies, legal practitioners, civil society groups and government officials to deliberate on strategies for promoting trust, protecting human rights and strengthening police-community relations.
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen, represented by the Director of the Citizens Engagement Department, Dr. Babatunde Omotayo, said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains committed to promoting inclusive governance and community-driven security initiatives.
He noted that addressing security challenges requires collective responsibility rather than relying solely on law enforcement agencies.
“Security can no longer be viewed solely as the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. It is a collective responsibility that requires active collaboration among government institutions, communities and, particularly, young people,” he said.
According to him, the summit was conceived as a platform to encourage constructive dialogue, improve relationships between young people and law enforcement agencies, enhance political intelligence and promote community-led responses to security challenges.
“The youths remain one of the greatest assets of our society. Their energy, creativity and innovative capacity position them as critical partners in building safer and more resilient communities,” he added.
In his remarks, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Olorundare Moshood Jimoh, underscored the importance of building lasting partnerships between the police and young people, saying effective policing thrives on mutual trust, understanding and cooperation.
“The youth are not just leaders of tomorrow; leadership starts today. They are strategic partners in promoting peace, security and national development,” the AIG said.
Jimoh stated that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to globally accepted policing standards founded on respect for human rights, accountability, inclusiveness, dialogue and community partnership.
He urged young people to support security agencies by providing credible information, rejecting misinformation and engaging constructively with law enforcement authorities.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to internationally accepted policing standards anchored on respect for human rights, accountability, inclusiveness, dialogue and community partnerships,” he said.
The AIG also observed that sustained engagement initiatives introduced by the Lagos State Government, including the annual police-youth dialogue platforms, have contributed significantly to improving relations between the police and young people across the state.
Participants at the summit emphasized that sustained dialogue, civic education and mutual respect remain essential to strengthening public confidence in policing, preventing crime and fostering peaceful, resilient communities.
