Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), experts and heads of security agencies have called for greater professionalism, ethical conduct, intelligence sharing and stronger collaboration among security institutions to tackle security challenges in the state.

They made the call at the sixth edition of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Statewide Inter-Agency Training for Security Operatives, held at The Zone, Plot 9, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.

The two-day programme, themed: “Enhancing Professional Capacity, Ethical Standards and Inter-Agency Collaboration for Effective Security Operations,” brought together senior officers, security personnel and experts from different fields.

Among those who attended were the LSSTF Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, represented by the Fund’s Director of Administration, Mr Degbola Lewis; Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, AIG Simeon Udofia Akpanudom; and Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Maritime Police Command, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, represented by DCP Udu Moses Ogechi.

Also present were Executive Director/Deputy Director of Clinical Services at Atlantis Pediatric and Multispecialist Hospital, Dr Diya Ololade Oluwadamilola, and Clinical Nutritionist Titilayo Akindele.

Welcoming participants, Ogunsan, represented by Lewis, said the training, which began in March, would continue until December and subsequently become a permanent feature of the Fund’s security interventions.

He said the decision to prioritise human capacity development was driven by his belief that people remained the most valuable asset of any organisation.

According to him, an assessment of the Fund’s responsibilities after he assumed office showed that logistics, equipment and human capacity were critical areas requiring attention.

He said the training was designed to help security personnel continually improve their knowledge, strengthen their professional competence and build relationships across institutional boundaries.

Ogunsan also welcomed the senior officers and facilitators, noting that their participation would provide opportunities for mentorship, networking and the exchange of practical knowledge.

Speaking at the opening session, Akpanudom said the training was timely because criminals were increasingly exploiting technology, institutional weaknesses and jurisdictional boundaries.

He said security agencies must therefore develop personnel who were professionally competent, ethically grounded, technologically responsive and able to work seamlessly with other institutions.

Akpanudom stressed that professional capacity went beyond simply having personnel on the ground, saying officers needed the knowledge, discipline, judgment and skills required to respond effectively to emerging threats.

He called for continuous training in intelligence analysis, criminal investigation, cybercrime, financial crime investigation, forensic techniques, crisis management, communication, evidence management and technology-driven security operations.

The maritime security dimension was also highlighted during the training.

Representing AIG Nurat, DCP Udu explained that the Maritime Police Command maintains operational presence across waterways in several parts of the country and works with agencies including the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, Customs Marine and Army amphibious units.

She said effective security of the waterways was vital to the economy because many communities depend on them for transportation, fishing and commerce.

According to her, increased patrols and cooperation among security and maritime agencies had contributed to a reduction in piracy, kidnapping and other crimes on the waterways.

Speaking on metabolic syndrome and other health risks associated with demanding security duties, Dr Oluwadamilola explained that conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol could be interconnected and, if poorly managed, lead to serious complications.

He urged security personnel to undergo regular medical checks and pay greater attention to nutrition, exercise, stress management and adequate sleep.

He 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.

Akindele, who focused on nutrition and chronic stress, said security personnel were particularly vulnerable to prolonged stress because of the nature of their work.