By Constance Adaurie
In a bold and strategic move to strengthen the security architecture of Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) today commenced a statewide training programme for security operatives across all law enforcement agencies operating in Lagos. Themed ‘Enhancing Professional Capacity, Ethical Standards and Inter-Agency Collaboration for Effective Security Operations’, the statewide training will impact over 1,000 security operatives drawn from all agencies in Lagos and will run over a 10-month-long time frame.
This statewide training is signalling a decisive shift from reactive policing to intelligence-driven, collaborative security management, and is coming at a critical time when evolving security threats demand not only tactical readiness but also ethical discipline, situational awareness, and seamless interagency cooperation, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The security training, executed by LSSTF under the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan in partnership with Globus Training and Advisory Ltd., underscores the Lagos State Government’s commitment to a unified security front. With participants drawn from a broad spectrum of security and law enforcement agencies, such as the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army (OP Mesa), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Marine Police Lagos, NCCSALW, Supernumerary Police, and other specialised units, the training marks one of the most comprehensive multi-agency capacity-building efforts ever implemented in the nation’s history.
The opening ceremony which was held today, 25th March 2026, brought together personnel from a broad spectrum of security and law enforcement agencies. It also attracted an array of high-profile security leaders and stakeholders, including the the Chairman of the LSSTF Board, Kehinde Durosinmi Etti ably represented by a Board Member, DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover (retd); Executive Secretary/CEO, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan; Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun States), AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh; Commander, NA 9 Brigade and Coordinator of OP Mesa, Brig. Gen. Ayokunle Owolabi; Comptroller, NIS Lagos Command, CIS Christopher O. Onajinrin; Comptroller NIS MMIA Command, CIS Christopher Uzoma; NSCDC Lagos Commandant, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro; Deputy Commander of NDLEA Lagos Command, DCN Akogun James; Lagos RRS Commander, CSP Shola Jejeloye; CSO to the Gov. Sanwo-Olu, CSP Fagbemi Adekunle; and O/C Marine Police Lagos, CSP Lekan Faniyi, among others.
Delivering his opening speech for the first of the 10-month series, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan thanked the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his strategic leadership and frontline ideas that is making the LSSTF to thrive.
He indicated: “Lagos State remains the economic and commercial hub of Nigeria, with a population that continues to grow rapidly and a business environment that attracts millions of people daily. With this growth comes increasing complexity in managing security and maintaining law and order. Modern security challenges are becoming more sophisticated, dynamic, and interconnected.”
“Addressing them requires not only adequate equipment and infrastructure, but also well-trained personnel who possess the right professional skills, ethical orientation, and the capacity to work collaboratively across agencies.”
“We believe that investment in human capacity is just as critical as investment in security infrastructure. Well-trained, disciplined, and ethically grounded officers are the backbone of any effective security system. This training initiative is anchored on three critical pillars of Professional Capacity, Ethical Standards, and Inter-Agency Collaboration,” Ogunsan said.
In his welcome remarks, DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover (Rtd) described the training as a landmark evolution in LSSTF’s intervention strategy. “I want to welcome you to this training, and I know you will gain a lot,” he said. “The LSSTF is an interventionist unit. We supply logistics, vehicles, fuel, and so on to all security agencies. But we are doing a lot more now by actually training officers, which is the best that can happen to us.” He urged participants to adopt a more innovative mindset, noting that “as law enforcement agencies, you have to think outside the box and be more aware of your environment.” In a poignant reflection on the risks of the profession, the retired senior Police officer added, “Law enforcement is very dangerous, but try and get home. I got home, and I wish you the same. I wish all of you the promotion after this event.”
On his part, the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh challenged officers to sustain excellence beyond the training environment. “The challenge of doing your best is sustaining the best,” he stated. “Let us continue to do our best,” he added, emphasizing consistency as the hallmark of professional policing.
Brig. Gen. Ayokunle Owolabi, Commander, 9 Brigade and Coordinator of OP Mesa operations, stressed the necessity of interagency synergy in tackling modern security threats. “Modern security challenges require a concerted effort. No single agency can tackle it in isolation,” he said. “I ask that all participants should enhance interagency collaboration beyond this training. Let’s work together and see ourselves as members of the same one security family.” He further underscored the enduring nature of capacity building: “It does not end here. The true measure of success of this training will be reflected in how we handle security situations outside this environment.”
Echoing similar sentiments, NIS Lagos Comptroller, CIS Christopher Olu Onajinrin, described security as a shared responsibility. “Security is everyone’s business. With the collaboration of all security agencies, we can boldly assure Lagosians of safety,” she said. She encouraged participants to cascade the knowledge gained: “Turn all you learn into ‘train the trainer’ opportunities so that we can all learn together. Let us know that there is no rivalry among us.”
NSCDC Lagos Commandant Adedotun Keshinro reinforced the value of collective strength, stating: “It is important for us to train together, learn together, so that we can strategize and work together. We achieve better by working together than working alone.” He added that synergy helps “pull our strengths together and decimate our weaknesses,” urging officers not to see hierarchy as a barrier to cooperation.
In a similar vein, CIS Christopher Uzoma of the NIS MMIA Command described the initiative as unprecedented in his professional experience. “This is a very lofty idea. This is the first time I will see all security agencies collapse into the same room to learn and collaborate for one goal,” he said. “I am really very happy to identify with this initiative. I doff my hat to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for doing this for us.”
To set the tone for the training proper, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan returned to the stage with a no-nonsense opening charge for emphasis on his firm stance on discipline and accountability. “I have read files upon files from past Executive Secretaries. They have told me that security officers don’t listen during trainings,” he said pointedly. “I am going to personally submit names to your leaders if anyone is found not paying attention during these sessions.” With his remarks, Dr. Ogunsan signalled a results-driven approach, emphasizing that participation and attentiveness would be closely monitored.
The intellectual depth of the programme was further demonstrated by the lead trainer from Halogen Group, Dr. Wale Adeagbo, who adopted a practical and psychological approach to security awareness. Using a visual exercise involving a complex image of animals, he illustrated the concept of perception gaps in threat detection. “There are actually 16 animals in the image, but the best officers only saw eight, while many others saw fewer,” he explained. “Insecurity is not always obvious. You must use your inner eyes. You cannot afford to see only eight when there are 16 threats.”
Dr. Adeagbo urged participants to develop heightened situational awareness and critical thinking. “You must discern beyond the obvious and lead within your space. You must be different after this training,” he said. He also introduced a holistic framework for personal and professional development, highlighting four key resources—time, money, health, and knowledge—and their intersection with nine core life responsibilities, including family, faith, and social relationships.
Delving into ethics, he outlined three foundational principles for public officers: “public service, respect and empathy, and courage.” He emphasized that effective security operations are rooted in public trust: “Everyone in public safety relies on the consent of the public to work effectively.” He added a reflective dimension to personal growth, noting that “your strengths are often identified by others, but your weaknesses are yours to discover.”
As Lagos continues to grapple with the complexities of urban security, the LSSTF-led initiative represents a forward-thinking model that prioritizes professionalism, ethics, and unity across agencies. By fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, the programme is expected to significantly enhance the operational effectiveness of security personnel and reinforce public confidence in the state’s security framework.
With its scale, depth, and multi-agency inclusiveness, this statewide training for security operatives in Lagos State will redefine how security is managed in West Africa’s economic hub and Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, setting a benchmark for other states to emulate.
