Lagos State Police Command says the upward review of restriction on vehicular movement on Saturday from 3am-3pm to 6am-3pm was to allow people with medical, other emergencies get help.

The Command also notes that persons who had earlier planned international travels and might want to get to the airports will also be able to do so before 6am when there will be restriction on vehicular movements till elections are concluded by 3pm.

Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh gave the explanations during an interview with reporters after a security briefing with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and head of special units on preparedness for the polls.

Jimoh said the command had adjusted the vehicular restriction time now from 6am to 3pm because of the fact that there are a lot of people with medical emergencies and medical appointments.

We have adjusted the restriction based on the needs of people facing extreme medical emergencies and other urgent situations.

“We also took into consideration the concerns of many citizens and foreign nationals who are affected by travel plans and need to leave the country.

“We want to inform those coming from other parts of Nigeria and from outside the country that the restriction has now been relaxed,” he said.

Jimoh, however,warned troublemakers might want to foment trouble and cause a breach of peace during the elections to stay away or be ready to face the full weight of the law.

“The police will not spare anyone obstructing the electoral process. We are going to promptly apprehend the individual, investigate and we are going to prosecute them.

“We appeal to parents, guardians, opinion leaders and religious leaders to prevail on their children to be law-abiding and not to engage in any acts that can cause disturbance of the process anywhere throughout the state,” he said.

The police chief urged eligible voters to turn out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring that security agencies are providing adequate protection for the entire electoral process.

“The election is taking place in 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.

“We are going to ensure proper protection throughout the 13,325 polling units that are spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“We will secure equipment, electoral materials, such as forms, resource sheets, that are being utilised for the process.

“Those who are accredited by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission to be part of this electoral process will be protected. People who are in their homes, on the streets will be protected also, ” he said.

The commissioner said the security agencies, working jointly, were fully committed to peaceful, fair and credible elections.

“All the agency led by Nigerian police force in terms of election security, including the military and other security and safety agency are all working on the same page.

“Our deployment for the election has been completed and police personnel have started moving to the location for which they are assigned.

“We will ensure strict compliance and enforcement of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the Police Act 2020, the Criminal Code, the Penal Code, and Parliament against passing prohibition and other recourse laws.

He said the command had met with the 15 political parties participating in the election and other stakeholders.

He dismissed allegations that the police and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) were planning to compromise the polls in favour of one political party, stressing that security remained apolitical.

There is nobody that has written any petition against the Lagos State Police Command or against me as a person that there is an iota of compromise from our end.

“We don’t compromise. We are clearly apolitical. I am not a spokesperson for LASIEC and I would not be competent to talk about LASIEC.

“But being on the same platform, we are giving level playing ground to everybody and allowing everybody to come out and show your popularity.

“It is only someone that wants to blackmail the system that will come up with such an allegation. I want to make it abundantly clear to everyone that the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command is not partisan in any form. We don’t pay patronage to any political party.

“We have ensured that we do everything according to the law and with the dictates of the Electoral Act, that is what we will continue to do.

“So if anybody is expressing some fear of losing his or her certain area, let such a group or group of individuals address their matter and not point accusing fingers on either police or LASIEC,” he stressed.

On security deployment for the polls, CP Jimoh said there would be more than enough operatives in all the polling units, adding that armed security would be stationed at close proximity to the polling areas for quick intervention and response should the need arise.

“We have ensured maximum deployment and protection for all the political parties that are partaking in this election. There are 15 in number and we have 13,325 polling units across the 20 local government areas and 33 LCDAs in the state. We have maximum vital security for all these activities.

“As I speak with you, there has not been any incident of threat to peace or exhibition of violence throughout the period of this election. It doesn’t come by chance, it’s as a result of the coordinated adequate planning by the police force. We have been working together with other security and safety agencies to ensure that we are on the same page.

“Our deployment is going to be jointly under my office because we have what we call the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and we have been doing well. “We have met severally and this comprises the police, the military and other security and safety agencies. I co-chair the ICCS with the chairman and it has been giving out results.

“We have been meeting with stakeholders, the political parties under IPAC and all the representatives of all the parties and they have assured of good conduct. So far so good. They are conducting themselves peacefully and we want them to extend this spirit of sportsmanship to the period of the election,” said the CP.

Continuing, he said the police carried out a threat assessment to enable the service to know the flashpoints and areas of likely disturbances.

“We have equally sought the approval of the Inspector General of Police for additional personnel outside this command and he has approved the deployment of close to 10,000 police personnel to augment our strength in the command.

“Election security is what we have been doing for a long time- general and off season- We know that the local government election is the one closest to the grassroots where every representative are picked from and so we considered that fact in our deployment.

“We appreciate the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for approval additional deployment of personnel and equipment to the command to ensure there is overwhelming security deployment during this election.

“There will be enough police personnel in each of the polling units. We have equally strengthened cooperation with other agencies and identified where they are going to deploy.

“We have ensured continuous raid of criminal hideouts throughout state and have removed a lot of them from the streets. We have a plan in place to ensure that we nip in the bud, any form of threat to safety during this period and even beyond,” he added.

Aside from the 10,000 personnel deployed from outside the state, the IGP also ordered the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) commands from the southwest states to provide backup.

Speaking on the show-of-force conducted earlier, CP Jimoh said it was a confidence building patrol which comprised the police, military, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Federal Fire Service and other government security and safety agencies.

The show which commenced at the command headquarters in Ikeja, marched through Ikeja, Agege, Oshodi, Mushin and environs.

According to him, the command flagged up “Show of Force” exercise on Thursday and it will continue on Friday.

“The exercise is to send message to the public, to build the confidence of the electorate to be able to come out boldly to come and cast their votes on Saturday,

“At the same time sending strong messages to who will be criminal or people who have planned to perpetrate evil or cause destruction of the process to know that we are ready for them, ” he said

According to him, the command will ensure that all officers conform with the electoral act in their behaviours and in their conduct during and after the election.

“This is a form of confidence building for the people to be fully assured that they are safe to come out. And it is equally of note to let the people know that there is a warning to who will be criminal and those people who are planning to foment trouble.

“They know that there is no place they can put their leg in causing distortion for the process. So this equally will get the officers and men on the show of force exercise to be familiar equally with the terrain and be able to have control of the entire security situation.

So like the question you asked me we are good to go. Our deployment has been completed and areas of shortcomings addressed.

“I wanted to use this opportunity to get it across to Lagosians and visitors that the state is safe. We are going to ensure maximum security for everyone- electorates, electoral officials, adhoc staff,” said CP Jimoh.

Of importance, he said, was the lecture to policemen on election duty to give special attention to physically challenged individuals who would come out to vote as well as the elderly.

Acknowledging that problems could arise after results have been announced, the CP said the security plan also made arrangements for such situations. He said players have been advised to ensure that the channel their grievances without causing disturbance to the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in the state.

“Anybody with grievances that doesn’t approach it in line with the electoral act and the law of the land will be apprehended, investigated and prosecuted,” he warned.

CP Jimoh cautioned persons with security escorts to leave them behind when going to cast their votes.

“VIPs, no matter the person or office occupied are not allowed to go into the polling booth with their escort. They will be there to vote as every other Nigerian to avoid issues or intimidation or harassment,” he said.

“The Command hereby sternly warns all miscreants, hoodlums, and thugs to stay away from the polling units, collations centers and other statutory places where the electoral processes are designated to take place throughout the State.

The Police and other security agencies involved in the security of the election will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law on any person(s) or group of persons planning to disrupt the election. Suspected miscreants, hoodlums and thugs and their sponsors will be promptly arrested, investigated and prosecuted.                                  

“All the 15 political parties participating in the election and their leaderships in the State are enjoined to warn their members and supporters to abide by the electoral act in total and play the game according to the rules.

The Police will not tolerate any overzealousness and unnecessary dramatizations that can cause disturbances of the peace or disruption of the electoral process at any stage.

The full extent of the law will be applied on any violator or those who may attempt to violate the law during the period. Parents and guardians are also implored to prevail on their children and wards to desist from any act of violence, intimidation or harassment of people at the polling units, collations centers or any other area throughout the period of the election and beyond.

The public are further encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities in their vicinity by promptly contacting the police via the designated emergency lines: 08063299264 or 08065154338.

“The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to ensuring a secure, safe and credible election. And hereby appreciates in advance the cooperation of all residents in the implementation of the security arrangements for the July 12, 2025 Local Government Elections in Lagos State,” the Lagos State Police Command boss enthused.