Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has said he did not receive what is commonly referred to as a “security vote” during his time as governor of Lagos State.
Fashola made the remark on Friday, 12 June 2026, while speaking at a panel session during The Platform, a public lecture organised by The Covenant Nation in Lagos.
He said he was unaware of how security votes were allegedly managed in other states, insisting that his administration operated differently.
“This security vote thing – whenever I hear some of my colleagues talk about it, I don’t know what it means because I never had it in Lagos,” Fashola said.
“Well, maybe you were the governor, but I was the governor, so I speak for what I know.”
He added that during his tenure as governor between 2003 and 2015, security-related spending in Lagos State was handled through formal government structures, particularly the Ministry of Budget and Planning.
Fashola stated that Lagos State established a Security Trust Fund, which allowed residents and private sector actors to contribute to security funding, while government spending was monitored through structured processes.
According to him, the state held monthly security meetings involving relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, where crime trends and security responses were reviewed regularly.
He also noted that his administration engaged in data-driven security management, tracking crime patterns over time to improve response strategies.
Fashola explained that the approach to security in Lagos combined policy coordination, funding transparency, and collaboration with residents rather than relying on discretionary allocations.
The former governor said crime remains a dynamic challenge requiring continuous adaptation, adding that security management cannot be reduced solely to the use of force but must include planning, data analysis, and institutional coordination.
The panel session featured discussions on governance, democratic institutions, and public accountability as part of Nigeria’s Democracy Day commemorations.
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