Former Minister of Works and former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has stated that he never received any funds known as “security votes” during his tenure as governor of the state.
Fashola made the disclosure on Friday while speaking at The Platform, a public affairs programme organised by The Covenant Nation in Lagos. His comments came during a panel discussion on governance, security, and national development.
The former governor said he was often surprised whenever discussions about security votes came up because, according to him, such an arrangement did not exist during his administration in Lagos State.
He maintained that all expenditures related to security were properly budgeted and managed through government institutions rather than through a special fund controlled by the governor.
According to Fashola, security-related acquisitions and spending were handled by the Ministry of Budget and Planning, with proper records and accountability measures in place.
“I was the governor, and there was no security vote,” he said, stressing that he could only speak from his personal experience as the chief executive of Lagos State at the time.
Fashola explained that security initiatives in Lagos were largely supported through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, a public-private partnership that received contributions from residents, corporate organisations, and other stakeholders interested in improving security across the state.
He noted that his administration held monthly security meetings throughout his eight years in office and regularly reviewed crime statistics and security reports to assess progress and identify emerging challenges.
According to him, the state government also maintained transparency by providing regular updates to residents on how security funds were being utilised and the impact they were having on crime reduction.
The former minister further stated that tackling crime requires more than the use of weapons and law enforcement agencies.
He argued that effective policies, data-driven decisions, and collaboration between government institutions and citizens are equally important in maintaining public safety.
Fashola added that crime continues to evolve, making the work of security agencies and policymakers a continuous responsibility.
He served as governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015 before going on to serve as a minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
