Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has pledged to provide better accommodation for police officers, particularly personnel in the lower ranks, as he disclosed that 21 barracks redevelopment projects are currently ongoing across Lagos State.
Disu made the disclosure on Saturday evening after completing his maiden inspection of police barracks and accommodation facilities across the state.
The IGP began the official tour of police facilities in Lagos and Ogun states on Thursday as part of efforts to assess officers’ living conditions and improve accommodation for them and their families.
Following an inspection of ongoing housing, rehabilitation and infrastructure projects, Disu stressed that decent accommodation was an important part of police welfare and could influence officers’ morale and effectiveness.
He disclosed that about 600 buildings within the barracks had already been refurbished, while a headcount of personnel occupying police quarters had been completed to establish the actual housing requirements and improve management of the facilities.
Disu, however, expressed concern over the condition of some of the barracks, noting that several facilities had been neglected for extended periods.
He said the neglect had resulted in some police personnel constructing shanties and setting up businesses around the barracks.
The IGP’s inspection also included the Police Hospital in Falomo, which is currently undergoing renovation aimed at improving healthcare services for police officers and their families.
According to Disu, part of the redevelopment programme involved removing shanties and other informal structures around the estates to restore order and create room for planned housing and supporting infrastructure.
He appealed to officers and their families to be patient throughout the redevelopment process, acknowledging that large-scale construction work could cause temporary disruptions.
Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke-Benson Awoyinka, said the state government was working with the police under the LagosHOMS housing initiative, with private developers expected to participate in the development.
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She said the partnership was aimed at improving accommodation for police personnel while also making better use of existing estates.
Awoyinka acknowledged that the project had faced challenges involving relocation, demolition and land reclamation but said the development had continued and full-scale construction was now underway.
She disclosed that at least 1,000 housing units were expected to be completed by February 2027, stressing that the accommodation would be reserved exclusively for police officers.
The commissioner also dismissed reports that police barracks were being sold, insisting that the state government was partnering with the police because it believed security personnel deserved decent living conditions.