Lagos grants 2,000 Police officers free three-month transport access
The Lagos State Government has presented 2,000 Cowry Cards to personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, granting them three months of unlimited complimentary access to the state’s public transportation network.
The initiative, presented at the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, covers the Blue Line and Red Line rail services, electric boats, and Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) buses.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the initiative was part of the state government’s Police Care Initiative aimed at improving the welfare of police officers and strengthening the relationship between the police and residents.
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner said the initiative was borne out of the administration’s commitment to supporting officers who daily protect lives and property across the state.
He explained that the Police Care Initiative was an extension of the government’s broader welfare interventions, which had previously targeted commercial drivers through substance testing and eye-care programmes.
According to him, the state government had conducted substance tests and eye examinations for more than 10,000 drivers, while similar eye-care interventions had been extended to police officers.
Osiyemi said the government had earlier provided eye-care services for about 10,000 police officers in Lagos and subsequently extended the programme to officers within Zone 2.
He added that the latest intervention was designed to further ease the transportation burden on police personnel while encouraging them to reciprocate the government’s support through improved service to residents.
“Prioritizing the welfare of police officers will also go a long way in supporting their logistics. In doing so, we believe police officers will, in return, treat Lagosians with care, passion, and love,” he said.
He noted that the presentation of the Cowry Cards would be followed by a demonstration of how the cards operate across the state’s integrated public transportation system.
Receiving the cards on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Lagos, AIG Simeon Akpando, commended the Lagos State Government for its sustained support for police welfare.
Akpando said each of the 2,000 beneficiaries would be entitled to three months of unlimited complimentary transportation across the Blue Line, Red Line, electric water boats, and buses.
He described the intervention as a thoughtful initiative that would encourage police personnel and support their daily responsibilities.
The AIG said the Lagos State Government has consistently collaborated with the police through various welfare programmes, including medical support, dental care, scholarships for dependants of police officers, and financial empowerment initiatives.
He also commended private sector organisations supporting police welfare, citing Air Peace for granting fare concessions to police officers on its domestic and international routes and giving them boarding preference.
Akpando called on other state governments and private sector organisations, particularly airlines, to emulate such initiatives by providing welfare support to police officers and other security personnel.
He said improved welfare remained a priority of the Inspector-General of Police, particularly in ensuring that serving and retired personnel are adequately supported.
The police representative assured the Lagos State Government of the continued commitment of the force to maintaining peace and security across the state, while expressing appreciation for the administration’s support.