As Lagos residents prepare to head to the polls for the upcoming local government election, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, has announced that a statewide movement restriction will be in place on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 3am to 3pm.
In a statement released on Wednesday through the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police chief said the restriction is aimed at ensuring that the election process goes on peacefully without security concerns.
He noted that the decision was reached after discussions with the Consultative Committee on Election Security and other important stakeholders involved in the election planning and security.
According to the statement, all vehicles, including motorcycles and boats, will not be allowed to operate across the state during the 12-hour period, with the exception of those providing essential services.
These include emergency medical services, fire service vehicles, and security patrol vehicles operated by approved security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Mr. Jimoh said, “The movement restriction will cover every part of Lagos from 3am to 3pm on Saturday, 12th July, 2025. It is to allow for adequate security, peaceful conduct, and safety before, during, and after the election. The safety of voters, election officers, and the general public is our main concern.”
He added that security personnel would be stationed across various parts of the state to enforce the restriction and prevent any form of disturbance during the voting process.
He further noted that no police escort or armed personnel would be allowed to accompany politicians or government officials to polling centres or collation points. This step, he said, was taken to avoid intimidation and ensure a level playing field for all participants.
“Police escorts, covered number plates, and the use of sirens at or around polling stations and collation centres are prohibited,” the statement read.
Vehicles or individuals connected to any unofficial or unaccredited security group will also not be allowed to move around, and no state-run security outfit is permitted to engage in election duties. Only those officially listed and recognised by LASIEC will be permitted within the electoral space.
The commissioner made it clear that those on official election duty, including media personnel and election observers who have been properly accredited by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), will be allowed to operate — but only if they wear their official identification tags.
“No one without the identification tag will be allowed to take part in the election. Anyone arrested without an identification tag will be investigated and prosecuted in line with the Electoral Act,” Jimoh warned.
He urged Lagosians to cooperate with the authorities and stay indoors during the restriction hours unless they fall under the exempted categories. The police, he said, are fully prepared to secure the electoral process and prevent any disruptions.
