Susan Abayomi
The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the professional competence, inter-agency cooperation and welfare of security operatives in Lagos State, with its Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, hinting at overseas learning opportunities for officers.
Ogunsan gave the assurance at the October edition of the Fund’s Statewide Inter-Agency Training Programme, an initiative launched in March to promote professional development, ethical discipline and effective collaboration among military, paramilitary and other security agencies operating in the state.
He said the monthly programme would be sustained and expanded over the next five years and beyond, with the aim of improving operational effectiveness and ensuring that security personnel are better equipped to protect lives and property.
According to him, the success of the initiative would be measured by its impact on public safety, stronger relationships among security agencies and the confidence of Lagos residents in the state’s security system.
Ogunsan noted that the October session marked another milestone in the programme, which has continued to bring personnel from different security organisations together for shared learning and professional engagement.
He disclosed that the training would continue in November, while a special, intensive session would be organised in December to prepare security operatives for their responsibilities during the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the December programme would feature practical exercises designed to improve officers’ readiness for election-related security duties, stressing that the conduct and preparedness of personnel deployed on the ground would be critical to ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections.
Ogunsan challenged participants to recognise the importance of their operational responsibilities, noting that assurances from senior government officials could only translate into effective security when officers on the ground were adequately prepared.
A major achievement of the monthly training, he said, was the improvement in relationships among security agencies, as personnel increasingly understood the importance of cooperation in tackling common security threats.
He attributed the progress to the programme’s deliberate effort to bring officers from different services into the same learning environment, encouraging mutual respect, professional understanding and teamwork across institutional boundaries.
Using the improved relationships as an example, Ogunsan said the initiative was helping to foster a more coordinated security environment in Lagos, where personnel could work together rather than engage in inter-agency conflicts.
He also disclosed that the Fund was expanding its engagement with additional security organisations, including the Nigeria Customs Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to strengthen collective efforts against crime.
“No criminal must survive in Lagos,” he declared, emphasising the need for all relevant security institutions to contribute to a coordinated response to criminal activities.
Beyond professional development, the LSSTF chief encouraged officers to embrace financial discipline and plan for their future, particularly as they approach retirement or seek further training opportunities.
He advised personnel to begin saving towards the requirements for international travel, including obtaining passports, in anticipation of overseas training opportunities that could emerge through the Fund’s engagements with foreign missions and international partners.
Ogunsan stressed that selection for such opportunities would be based on preparedness, urging officers to invest in their personal and professional development rather than rely on preferential treatment.
The October training also featured sessions on security collaboration, health and wellness, and nutrition, alongside free medical checks and health screenings for participating officers.
Among the speakers were security expert Dr. Wale Adeagbo, who addressed collaboration for security; Dr. Diya Ololade, who spoke on health and wellness; and clinical nutrition consultant Miss Titilayo Akindele. Mr. Desmond Nnebue, General Manager of Globus Training and Advisory Limited, was also present at the programme.
Leading the health intervention, Dr. Diya Ololade Oluwadamilola, Executive Director and Deputy Director of Clinical Services at Atlantis Pediatric and Multi-specialist Hospital, described the initiative as an effort to protect security personnel who routinely put their lives and those of their families at risk in the course of safeguarding residents.
He said the medical component was designed to improve officers’ quality of life and help them identify potential health risks before they become serious.
Diya introduced the FRESH Protocol, which stands for Food, Reduce stressors, Exercise, Sleep, and Health checks and vaccinations, as a practical framework for maintaining healthier lifestyles.
Similarly, Akindele, founder of NutriFull Clinical Services, cautioned officers against excessive consumption of fried street foods, sugary drinks and instant noodles, urging them to make healthier dietary choices.
She encouraged participants to plan their meals, prepare food in advance where possible, drink sufficient water and replace sugary beverages with healthier alternatives.
“Your body is the most important piece of equipment. You maintain your weapon, your vehicle, your gear. Your body deserves the same discipline,” she said, drawing a parallel between physical wellbeing and the maintenance of operational equipment.
In his presentation, Adeagbo emphasised the need for security institutions to continuously improve professional standards and operational coordination in response to increasingly sophisticated security threats facing modern urban communities.
He noted that effective security operations required more than the deployment of force, stressing the importance of ethical conduct, strategic collaboration, accountability, emotional intelligence, effective communication and public trust.
The LSSTF’s monthly training programme forms part of its broader efforts to strengthen Lagos State’s security architecture through sustained investment in personnel development, institutional cooperation and the wellbeing of security operatives.
