The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has pledged to sustain its monthly inter-agency training programme and explore overseas learning opportunities for security operatives as part of efforts to improve professionalism, cooperation and public safety across the state.

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, gave the assurance at the October edition of the statewide inter-agency training programme, saying the initiative was already helping to build mutual trust among security personnel and strengthen collaboration across institutional boundaries.

Launched in March, the programme brings together military, paramilitary and other security agencies operating in Lagos for shared learning, professional development and improved coordination.

Ogunsan said the Fund intended to expand the initiative over the next five years and beyond, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that security personnel were better equipped to protect life and property while maintaining public confidence.

He said the monthly sessions would continue throughout his tenure, stressing that their value should be measured by improvements in operational effectiveness and cooperation rather than the regularity of the meetings alone.

One of the gains, according to him, is the growing willingness of personnel from different agencies to work together in confronting security threats.

“When last did you hear that Nigerian Army officer is fighting in a police station in Lagos? It is not happening here in Lagos. If you have attended this training, you won’t raise your hand to hit the officer of another security agency.”

We are cooperating to fight our common enemy. That’s the essence of this training,” he said.

Ogunsan said bringing officers from different services into a common learning environment had helped them understand one another’s responsibilities and appreciate the importance of coordinated action.

He disclosed that the Fund was extending its engagement to other institutions, including the Nigeria Customs Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to strengthen the state’s collective response to crime. “No criminal must survive in Lagos,” he declared.

Beyond improving cooperation, the LSSTF chief said the programme would prepare officers for emerging security challenges, including those associated with the 2027 general elections.

He announced that the November training would be followed by a special, more intensive session in December, featuring practical exercises to prepare personnel for election-related security duties.

Ogunsan warned that the credibility and peaceful conduct of the elections would depend not only on assurances from political leaders and security chiefs but also on the preparedness and conduct of officers deployed on the ground.

“If the President of the Federal Republic called the Inspector-General of Police and said, ‘I hope you are prepared,’ that answer is a function of the preparedness of those of you in this room,” he told the participants.

He urged officers to take the planned exercise seriously, noting that their ability to respond professionally to situations at the operational level would be critical to maintaining peace during the elections.

The LSSTF chief also encouraged personnel to prepare for possible overseas training opportunities by developing themselves professionally and improving their personal financial discipline.

Using the cost of obtaining an international passport as an example, he advised officers to save towards the basic requirements for international travel, explaining that opportunities could emerge through the Fund’s engagements with foreign missions and other partners.

He said selection for such opportunities would be based on preparedness, urging officers to invest in their development rather than rely on preferential treatment.

The October programme also addressed the health and wellbeing of security personnel, with experts warning that officers who routinely put their lives at risk must take their physical and mental health seriously.

Executive Director and Deputy Director of Clinical Services at Atlantis Pediatric and Multi-specialist Hospital, Dr Diya Ololade Oluwadamilola, said the medical intervention was designed to protect those who devote themselves to protecting others.

“Most of these security agencies, officers, usually put their lives on the line, put their families on the line to ensure that they protect citizens of Lagos,” he said.

Describing the initiative as an effort to “protect our protectors,” Ololade said officers needed to identify potential health problems early and adopt habits that would improve their quality of life.

He introduced the FRESH Protocol, which focuses on food, reducing stressors, exercise, sleep, and health checks and vaccinations, as a practical guide to healthier living.

Participants also received free health checks and screening during the programme.