5
For years, the relationship between young people and the police in Lagos has been shaped by suspicion, fear, and painful personal encounters.
However, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has demonstrated that these tensions are not inevitable—they can be confronted, understood, and gradually transformed through honest dialogue.
From 4 to 13 November 2025, the third edition of the Youth and Police Dialogue—held across the IBILE divisions of Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe—offered a new template for rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the young people they serve.
This year’s discourse had an unusual energy, with representation from the Lagos State Police Command, led by CP Moshood Olahundare Jimoh. His presence, candour, and willingness to accept responsibility elevated the conversation beyond symbolism into something concrete and memorable.
At the well-attended event, the Ministry explained why it convened the dialogue: youths are at the centre of both development and crime statistics in Lagos. National crime data indicates that roughly 55 percent of suspects fall within the 18–35 age bracket.
Lagos mirrors this pattern across traffic offences, cybercrime, drug-related cases, gang activity, and petty street crimes. If the police are to succeed and if young people are to feel protected rather than profiled, there must be a bridge between both sides.
CP Jimoh used the forum to introduce a policing philosophy grounded in transparency and partnership. A powerful moment was when he reaffirmed a long-standing policy Nigerians hear often but seldom trust: “Bail is free.” His voice was firm. No police officer, he said, has the right to collect money from anyone seeking bail.
The applause that followed was not out of courtesy; it was a release of built-up frustration. Many young participants had endured extortion in police stations. For them, hearing the Commissioner make this declaration publicly felt like a breath of fresh accountability.
Also significant was the Commissioner’s commentary on one of the darkest issues in police–youth relations: illegal phone searches.
With clarity that left no room for misinterpretation, he stated, “No policeman should search your phone on the road; I stand by that order.” The hall erupted.
For years, young Lagosians have narrated painful experiences of phone intimidation, forced ATM withdrawals, and harassment under the guise of cybercrime checks. By identifying with the problem and publicly banning it, CP Jimoh signalled that his leadership intends to confront misconduct, not cover it.
Then came the moment that shocked the room: the Commissioner gave out his phone number, a gesture that broke protocol and convention. Senior security officials rarely open themselves directly to the public, let alone to young people.
CP Jimoh explained that the number was not for casual conversations but for reports of emergencies, misconduct, threats, and situations where citizens need urgent intervention. He also pleaded for responsible use so that those in genuine distress could always reach him. With such a gesture, young people feel respected and valued.
Beyond policing reforms, the dialogue offered a promising avenue for institutional partnership. A notable proposal emerged: the creation of a Nigeria Police Youth Advisory Council, championed by Dr. Muiz Banire in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos Chapter, led by Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan. CP Jimoh welcomed the idea warmly, calling it a timely structure for consistent youth input in policing decisions. The initiative is capable of transforming isolated dialogues into long-term, institutionalised engagement.
The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has strengthened its profile as one of the most responsive public institutions. Successfully engaging thousands of young people across the five divisions—and securing the full participation of the Police Commissioner—demonstrates an impressive level of planning, outreach, and credibility. The Ministry showed that youth governance must move beyond rhetoric. When young people are invited sincerely, they show up. When their concerns are taken seriously, bruised trust begins to heal.
The biggest takeaway from the 2025 Youth and Police Dialogue was the leadership style of CP Moshood Jimoh. His tone was conversational rather than commanding, firm but not dismissive. The senior officer answered difficult questions, acknowledged institutional flaws, and made commitments backed by accountability. He shifted policing from a defensive stance to a collaborative one. In doing so, he set a new standard for what police–youth relations should look like in a modern city.
The dialogue was not a silver bullet, nor did it erase years of mistrust. But it marked a turning point. For the first time in a long time, young people heard promises that sounded like pledges, not public relations, while the police appeared like a partner interested in cooperation instead of an impersonal force.
If Lagos sustains this momentum through follow-ups, advisory councils, community policing units, and timely enforcement, the Youth and Police Dialogue will be remembered as the moment Lagos began crafting a new social contract between young people and law enforcement.
Trust is built in steps: dialogue is a step, action is the next. CP Jimoh has taken the first boldly. The responsibility now lies with the police command, the Ministry, and indeed the youth themselves to ensure the conversation becomes a culture.
For Lagos, this could be the beginning of a safer, more united future—where partnership replaces suspicion, understanding replaces fear, and accountability becomes the foundation of community security.
Adebisi Adams Oyeshakin, a PRNigeria Fellow, writes via [email protected]
