Security Beyond Firepower: LSSTF ES/CEO, Ogunsan, AIG Force CID Alagbon AIG Akpanudom, AIG Nurat, Other Experts Emphasize Professionalism, Intelligence Sharing, Healthy Living
By Oki O. Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
• as LSSTF holds 6th edition, inter-agency training for security operatives, Introduces medical check-up
In a city as dynamic as Lagos, the effectiveness of security operations, heads of security agencies and other experts have stressed, will depend increasingly on professional competence, ethical conduct, intelligence sharing and seamless collaboration among agencies. They made the observation at the August edition of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Statewide Inter-Agency Training for Security Operatives in Lagos, which is held today Wednesday August 19th and Thursday 20th, 2026, at The Zone, Plot 9, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos. The program is themed: ‘Enhancing Professional Capacity, Ethical Standards and Inter-Agency Collaboration for Effective Security Operations.’
The programme brought together senior officers and representatives of various security agencies, including the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan represented by LSSTF Director of Administration, Mr. Degbola Lewis; the Assistant Inspector-General of Police In-Charge of Force CID Annex Alagbon, Lagos, AIG Simeon Udofia Akpanudom; Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Maritime Police Command, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, represented by DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; as well as Executive Director/Deputy Director of Clinical Services, Atlantis Pediatric and Multispecialist Hospital, Dr. Diya Ololade Oluwadamilola, and Clinical Nutritionist Titilayo Akindele.
For the first time in the history of the Statewide Inter-Agency Training, LSSTF introduced a Medical checkup component which availed all the attendees the opportunity to run health checks ranging from Blood Pressure, blood sugar, body Weight and height checks among other vital signs screening. This component made the training program more robust as it ensured that the security operatives do not have to worry about how to pay for such medical tests after the session.
Welcoming participants to the 6th edition of the training, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ogunsan, who was represented by LSSTF Director of Administration Mr. Lewis, said the initiative, which commenced in March and has continued through to this month of August would run until December and continue as a permanent feature of the Fund’s security interventions.
Ogunsan said his decision to prioritise human capacity development was informed by his conviction that people remained the most important asset in any organisation. “I’m a people-oriented person and I believe so much in people because they are the greatest asset that God has given,” he said, explaining that when he assumed office, he examined the core responsibilities of the Fund and identified logistics, equipment and human capacity as critical areas of intervention.
Ogunsan explained that the programme was designed to ensure that security personnel across Lagos continuously acquire knowledge, strengthen their professional capacity and build relationships across institutional boundaries.
He welcomed the senior officers, facilitators and stakeholders attending the programme, noting that the presence of experienced security professionals provided participants with opportunities for mentorship, networking and knowledge exchange.
Delivering the opening remarks, AIG Force CID Annex Alagbon, AIG Simeon Akpanudom described the training as timely, noting that criminals were increasingly exploiting technology, institutional gaps and jurisdictional boundaries. He said security institutions must therefore become “professionally competent, ethically grounded, technologically responsive and capable of working seamlessly across institutional boundaries.”
According to him, professional capacity was not merely about having personnel on the ground, but about equipping officers with knowledge, skills, discipline, judgment and competence. He advocated continuous training in intelligence analysis, criminal investigation, cybercrime, financial crime investigation, forensic techniques, crisis management, communication, evidence management and technology-driven security operations. “The moment a security officer stops learning is the moment that officer begins to fall behind the criminals he or she is expected to confront,” Akpanudom warned.
On public confidence, he declared: “Public trust is not demanded; it is earned,” urging officers to recognise that every interaction with members of the public could either strengthen or weaken confidence in the security system.
Akpanudom further called for an end to institutional silos, advocating joint intelligence analysis, coordinated operations, regular inter-agency meetings, secure information sharing and joint problem-solving.
Representing AIG Maritime Police Command, AIG Okunade Nurat, DC Admin, DCP Udu Moses Ogechi brought the maritime dimension into the discussion, explaining that the Maritime Police Command maintains operational presence across waterways in several parts of the country and interfaces with agencies including the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Navy, Customs Marine and Army amphibious units. She said effective security of the maritime corridors was crucial to the Nigerian economy because numerous communities depend on waterways for transportation, fishing and commerce.
According to her, intensified patrols and inter-agency collaboration had contributed to a significant reduction in piracy, kidnapping and other water-related crimes. “The collaboration with all the agencies has really helped us a lot, and we are recording positive in that axis,” she said.
AIG Nurat urged participants to take the lessons from the training back to their respective commands and strengthen intelligence sharing, particularly with local communities, traditional leaders, vessel owners and other maritime stakeholders.
The training subsequently progressed into expert-led sessions with a focus on the health and wellbeing of security personnel.
Speaking on metabolic syndrome and the health risks associated with the demanding nature of security work, Dr. Diya Ololade explained that hypertension, type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels were closely connected and could lead to severe complications, including stroke, heart attacks, blood-vessel damage and kidney disease. He urged security personnel to undertake regular health checks and pay attention to nutrition, exercise, stress management and adequate sleep.
Dr. Ololade 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.
Similarly, Clinical Nutritionist Titilayo Akindele focused on the relationship between chronic stress, nutrition, hypertension and diabetes, noting that security personnel were particularly exposed to prolonged stress because of the nature of their duties. She explained that sustained stress could trigger hormonal responses that contribute to weight gain, elevated blood sugar and increased blood pressure.
Akindele urged officers to monitor their vital signs and make healthier food choices, stressing the importance of knowing their blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
The convergence of operational security expertise, maritime policing and preventive healthcare reinforced the central message of the training: that securing Lagos requires more than equipment and personnel. It requires competent officers, ethical leadership, intelligence-led operations, inter-agency trust and personnel healthy enough to perform their demanding duties.
