Lagos State has jumped into action, announcing a flashy new plan to rebuild police stations destroyed during the 2020 #EndSARS protests,a move that officials say will magically restore public trust and fix ongoing security woes. The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), now under “fresh” leadership, claims it’s got everything under control, with Executive Secretary Ayodeji Ogunsan proudly parading this initiative before the press at a recent media event in Alausa.

Ogunsan, who just took over the role and is already making headlines, insists that fixing up the police stations is the “key” to revamping Lagos security. He boasted about securing a mysterious new partner for the reconstruction, and, in classic government fashion, announced that “thorough inspections” have already happened. Residents are now supposed to rest easy, as construction will allegedly begin “soon”,though no specific timeline was given.

“The Fund has got a partner in the rebuilding. The police stations yet to be rebuilt after the destruction have been inspected and work would soon kick off on them,” Ogunsan declared. He also made the usual promises to boost accountability, get more supporters, and ensure that everyone’s money is going to visible results, as if that hasn’t been said before.

For years, LSSTF has touted its role as the savior of law enforcement, citing flashy purchases like patrol vehicles, bulletproof vests, and high-tech equipment. Ogunsan was quick to point to all these investments, as if they alone would solve deep-seated problems,ignoring skepticism about where these resources actually go and whether the streets feel any safer.

Ogunsan, clearly eager to please, gave a shout-out to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for giving him the job and framed his appointment as a “call to service.” He paid lip service to buzzwords like “innovation” and “people-centered security,” but with little detail about how this would look in reality, especially for communities still hurting from the 2020 unrest.

Remember, the #EndSARS movement started as a peaceful protest against notorious police abuses but quickly spiraled into chaos across Lagos. The destruction of police infrastructure left many areas without any visible law enforcement, supposedly opening doors for criminals,a narrative officials have been quick to push, while glossing over why the protests erupted in the first place.

Now, with rebuilding plans being flaunted as a cure-all, officials hope to close these so-called “security gaps” and convince citizens that law and order is returning. The rhetoric is strong: police stations rising from the ashes symbolize government resilience and a brave new era for Lagos, they say, barely touching the real issues that led to the unrest.

Security “experts” and community figures have been rolled out to endorse the plan, repeating the line that new buildings will magically restore trust between police and the public. Little is said about actual reforms or accountability for past abuses,the shiny new stations are being sold as the solution.

As this high-profile project moves ahead, all eyes are on LSSTF’s promises of transparency. But with the spotlight on these grand gestures, the deeper problems that sparked #EndSARS to begin with may well remain swept under the rug. Lagos may get new police stations, but whether real change follows is a different story.