LSSTF, Maritime Police Command Deepen Partnership to Strengthen Safety on Lagos Waterways
By Oki O. Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan with the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade.
The Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, has renewed its commitment to supporting maritime policing and strengthening safety across Lagos waterways following the maiden official working visit of its Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, to the Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex in Lagos. During the visit, Ogunsan donated 30 ballistic helmets, 30 bulletproof vests, 30 operational boots and 30 raincoats to the Command, while also pledging a new patrol pickup vehicle within one month.
Ogunsan said the intervention was designed to reinforce the work of officers responsible for securing the waterways and coastal environment. “My visit to the Maritime Police Command today is simply to strengthen the good work they are doing. They’ve done excellently well in keeping our waterways very safe. And as a way of saying thank you to the good work they’ve done, that’s what brought me here today.” The intervention comes at a time when water transportation remains an important part of Lagos’ plans to expand mobility and reduce pressure on the road network.
Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan; Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade and Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Admin, Maritime Police Command, DCP Udu Moses Ogechi during LSSTF’s CEO, Dr. Ogunsan’s working visit and donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to Maritime Police Command, Obalende Lagos.
AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade, who received the LSSTF delegation, said the Command would deploy the equipment responsibly. “We received it with an open heart, to use it professionally, to be accountable to the people we are serving.” She said the Command would maintain its presence along coastal corridors during the ember months and the forthcoming electoral period. “I can assure you that coastal environment is safe during the Ember Months. Moreover, now we have been empowered with the protective gears that we have just been given. As I said earlier, we are going to make wise and best use of it.”
L-R: Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan Receiving a Souvenir from the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade during LSSTF’s CEO, Dr. Ogunsan’s working visit and donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to Maritime Police Command, Obalende Lagos.L-R: ACP Adegbite Oyin Frances; DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan Receiving a Souvenir from the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade; ACP Ibrahim Oyetunde and CSP Olalekan Fabiyi during LSSTF’s CEO, Dr. Ogunsan’s working visit and donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to Maritime Police Command, Obalende Lagos.
Okunade also stressed the importance of local knowledge in maritime policing, noting that familiarity with waterways, coastal communities and operational corridors gives officers important situational awareness.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led government has identified safety and security concerns as among the constraints requiring attention if inland water transportation is to carry more passengers and goods. Nationally, waterways safety remains a major policy concern. NIWA says its marine responsibilities include safety enforcement, emergency response, surveillance, maritime security and search-and-rescue operations.
DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; ACP Adegbite Oyin Frances; ES/CEO, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan and AIG Maritime Police Command, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade during LSSTF’s CEO Dr Ogunsan working visit to Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex Lagos.L-R: DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan Presenting the Bulletproof Vests to the AIG Maritime Police Command, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade and ACP Adegbite Oyin Frances during the donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to Maritime Police Command at the Force Headquarters Annex Lagos.L-R: DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan Presenting the Raincoats Jacket to the AIG Maritime Police Command, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade and ACP Adegbite Oyin Frances during the donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to Maritime Police Command at the Force Headquarters Annex Lagos.L-R: DCP Udu Moses Ogechi; Executive Secretary/CEO, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan Presenting the Operational Boots to the AIG Maritime Police Command, AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade and ACP Adegbite Oyin Frances during the donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to Maritime Police Command at the Force Headquarters Annex Lagos.
AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade saluting the Executive Secretary/CEO, LSSTF, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan shortly after the donation of Bulletproof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Operational Boots and Raincoats to the Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex Lagos…
