Picnews
Security stakeholders in Lagos have emphasised that effective security operations require more than personnel and firepower, stressing the importance of professional competence, ethical conduct, intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration and the wellbeing of security personnel.
The stakeholders spoke during the sixth edition of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Statewide Inter-Agency Training for Security Operatives, held on Wednesday and Thursday at The Zone, Plot 9, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.
The training, themed “Enhancing Professional Capacity, Ethical Standards and Inter-Agency Collaboration for Effective Security Operations,” brought together senior officers and representatives from various security agencies, as well as experts in healthcare and nutrition.
Participants included the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, represented by the Fund’s Director of Administration, Mr. Degbola Lewis; Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force CID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, AIG Simeon Udofia Akpanudom; Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Maritime Police Command, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, represented by DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; Executive Director/Deputy Director of Clinical Services, Atlantis Pediatric and Multispecialist Hospital, Dr. Diya Ololade Oluwadamilola; and Clinical Nutritionist, Titilayo Akindele.
LSSTF Introduces Medical Screening
For the first time since the commencement of the statewide inter-agency training, LSSTF introduced a medical screening component to promote the health and wellbeing of security personnel.
Participants were given the opportunity to undergo basic health checks, including blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and height measurements, as well as other vital-sign assessments.
The initiative added a health dimension to the training, allowing security operatives to access essential medical screening without having to bear the immediate cost of the tests.
Welcoming participants to the sixth edition, Ogunsan, represented by Lewis, said the programme, which began in March, would continue until December and subsequently become a permanent component of the Fund’s security interventions.
Ogunsan explained that his decision to prioritise human-capacity development was based on his belief that people constitute an organisation’s most valuable asset.
“I’m a people-oriented person and I believe so much in people because they are the greatest asset that God has given,” he said.
He explained that upon assuming office, he reviewed the Fund’s core responsibilities and identified logistics, equipment and human-capacity development as key areas requiring attention.
According to him, the training is designed to ensure that security personnel across Lagos continually acquire relevant knowledge, improve their professional capabilities and build stronger relationships across institutional boundaries.
He also welcomed the senior security officers, facilitators and other stakeholders participating in the programme, noting that their experience would provide opportunities for mentorship, networking and knowledge exchange.
Police Chief Calls for Continuous Professional Development
In his opening remarks, AIG Akpanudom described the training as timely, noting that criminals were increasingly exploiting technology, institutional weaknesses and jurisdictional boundaries.
He said security institutions must therefore remain professionally competent, ethically grounded, technologically responsive and capable of operating seamlessly with other agencies.
Akpanudom stressed that professional capacity was not simply about having officers deployed on the ground, but also about equipping them with the knowledge, skills, discipline, sound judgment and competence required to confront evolving security threats.
He advocated continuous training in areas including intelligence analysis, criminal investigation, cybercrime, financial crime investigation, forensic techniques, crisis management, communication, evidence management and technology-driven security operations.
“The moment a security officer stops learning is the moment that officer begins to fall behind the criminals he or she is expected to confront,” he warned.
The police chief also highlighted the importance of public confidence in security institutions, noting that officers’ interactions with citizens could either strengthen or undermine trust.
“Public trust is not demanded; it is earned,” he said.
Akpanudom further called for an end to institutional silos among security agencies, advocating joint intelligence analysis, coordinated operations, regular inter-agency meetings, secure information sharing and collaborative problem-solving.
Maritime Security Requires Stronger Collaboration
Representing the Maritime Police Command, DCP Udu Moses Ogechi brought attention to the security challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s waterways.
He explained that the Maritime Police Command maintains an operational presence across waterways in different parts of the country and works with agencies including the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Navy, Customs Marine and Army amphibious units.
He stressed that securing maritime corridors was vital to Nigeria’s economy, noting that many communities depend on waterways for transportation, fishing and commercial activities.
According to him, intensified patrols and collaboration among security agencies have contributed to a reduction in piracy, kidnapping and other crimes along the waterways.
“The collaboration with all the agencies has really helped us a lot, and we are recording positive in that axis,” he said.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training in their respective commands and strengthen intelligence sharing with local communities, traditional institutions, vessel owners and other maritime stakeholders.
Experts Raise Health Concerns
The training also featured expert sessions focused on the health and wellbeing of security personnel, with specialists highlighting the importance of preventive healthcare.
Speaking on metabolic syndrome and health risks associated with demanding security duties, Dr. Ololade explained that conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol could be interconnected and, if poorly managed, could result in serious complications.
He urged security personnel to undergo regular medical checks and pay greater attention to nutrition, physical activity, stress management and adequate sleep.
Ololade introduced the FRESH health protocol, with “F” representing food and vitamins, “R” for reducing or removing stressors, “E” for exercise, “S” for sleep, and “H” for health checks and vaccination.
Similarly, Clinical Nutritionist Titilayo Akindele examined the relationship between chronic stress, nutrition, hypertension and diabetes.
She noted that security personnel were particularly vulnerable to prolonged stress because of the demanding nature of their responsibilities.
According to her, sustained stress can contribute to hormonal changes associated with weight gain, elevated blood sugar and increased blood pressure.
Akindele encouraged officers to monitor their vital signs regularly and make healthier dietary choices, stressing the importance of knowing their blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
The sixth edition of the LSSTF inter-agency training ultimately reinforced the message that effective security in Lagos requires more than weapons, equipment and personnel.
It requires professionally competent officers, ethical leadership, effective intelligence-led operations, strong inter-agency relationships and healthy personnel capable of performing the demanding responsibilities associated with protecting lives and property.
