The greatest weapon against insecurity is not found in sophisticated hardware or tactical vehicles, but in the minds, judgment and character of the men and women entrusted with protecting society. Across the world, the most effective security institutions are those that continuously sharpen the competence, emotional resilience and professional discipline of their personnel, recognising that every successful intelligence operation or law enforcement intervention begins with a well-trained officer.
This reality was once again reinforced as the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) concluded the fifth edition of its two-day Statewide Inter-Agency Training Programme for Security Operatives, held from July 15 to 16, 2026, bringing together security and emergency response personnel from across Lagos State for intensive capacity building, professional development and inter-agency collaboration.
Addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the programme, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, reaffirmed that human capital development would remain the cornerstone of his administration’s security agenda.
“When I assumed office, I reviewed my statutory responsibilities. I saw clearly that we were providing logistics and equipment, but I asked myself, ‘Where are the people?’ That conviction gave birth to this monthly training programme because investing in people must never be secondary,” he said.
Ogunsan stressed that the initiative was conceived as a long-term intervention rather than a one-off exercise. “I have five years to administer this organisation, and for every month of that period there will be training for security operatives in Lagos. As I said when we launched this initiative, it will continue beyond December because investing in people must become a permanent feature of our security architecture,” he stated.
He also urged participants to maximise the opportunity beyond classroom learning. “This programme is about networking, mentorship and discipline. Within this room are experienced professionals whose knowledge can shape careers. The value you derive from this training will depend on the commitment and focus you bring into it,” Ogunsan added.
At the closing session, lead facilitator Professor Oka Martin Obono described the programme as a strategic investment in the human capital required for modern security operations, noting that emotional intelligence has become an indispensable skill for today’s law enforcement personnel.
According to him, “Security officers operate daily under enormous pressure and elevated risk. They therefore need greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence to manage their own stress while responding professionally to members of the public.”
He explained that the training was designed to help officers develop the discipline to choose appropriate responses rather than react impulsively during encounters with civilians.
“Not everyone on the street is a criminal. Security personnel must be equipped to protect and serve the public with professionalism while maintaining operational effectiveness. When citizens see men and women in uniform, they should feel confidence, not fear,” he said.
Professor Obono also emphasised financial literacy as an essential component of personnel welfare, explaining that prudent financial management would help officers attain long-term financial security, particularly after retirement.
Describing the LSSTF training initiative as a model worthy of national adoption, he urged governments across Nigeria to institutionalise similar programmes. “This kind of trainings by the Lagos State Government under the auspices of the LSSTF is something that is worthy of commendation and emulation by other State governments because if we have military and paramilitary officers such as are represented here equipped with kinetic capacity to deal toughly with terror while simultaneously dealing less toughly with the civil population at a time like this, there cannot be anything better to do by way of an investment in our security officers.”
“This training should be structured, institutionalised, expanded, intensified and sustained. Security challenges have no expiration date, particularly in a megacity like Lagos. Continuous learning is the only sustainable response. We also need to find out what the officers’ own autonomous, independent assessment of the situation is so that we can prioritize investment in those areas,” he added.
The two-day programme ended with the presentation of certificates to participants drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, FRSC, NDLEA, NSCDC, Nigerian Correctional Services, LASTMA, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, RRS, Lagos Taskforce, Force CID Annex Alagbon, Marine Police, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Man O’ War Nigeria, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and other security and emergency management agencies, reinforcing LSSTF’s commitment to building a professional, intelligence-led and collaborative security ecosystem for Lagos State.
