LSSTF ES/CEO Ogunsan Receives Lagos CP Tijani on Visit, Demands Ownership Mindset, Maintenance Culture from Officers
By Oki O. Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
In public service, the value of assets is not merely in their acquisition but in their preservation. Across Lagos’s security architecture, billions are committed to operational tools including vehicles, communication gadgets, and tactical equipment, yet their longevity often depends on a less visible but critical factor, that is the culture of ownership. Without it, investments depreciate rapidly, operational efficiency declines, and public trust is eroded. It is this enduring challenge that took centre stage and framed the significant, far-reaching engagement when the leadership of the Lagos State Police Command paid a strategic visit to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Headquarters at Alausa, Ikeja, today Tuesday 21st April 2026.
Welcoming the delegation, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, set the tone with a candid reflection on leadership, accountability, and institutional expectations.
“CP Fatai Tijani is a unique person. He is a people-oriented leader. He is a nice, kind, and tough officer. I saw it a few days ago when they said someone is not using Police assets well and he issued that, the person be disciplined,” Ogunsan said, commending the Lagos Commissioner of Police.
He, however, quickly pivoted to a longstanding institutional concern. He emphasized that without a strong culture of ownership among users of LSSTF assets, even the most robust investments risk will rapidly decline. “We pride ourselves as the first security trust fund in Nigeria, other states are following us. One issue is bothering us. That is the issue of ownership and maintenance culture among officers. You can imagine the stress we go through to seek approval for the funds to make the assets available. So please help us.”
Demonstrating his characteristic action-driven approach, Ogunsan made a firm commitment tied to accountability. “I like walking the talk. I want everything that is said to be done immediately. When you constitute and launch this unit, which I suggest as Lagos Police Command Asset Monitoring Unit, I will give you a brand new operational vehicle and I will want you to empower them, if possible, to arrest anyone who violates this maintenance culture.”
In his response, CP Fatai Tijani, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, reflected both gratitude and a renewed commitment to reform, having served under multiple Commissioners within the state command. “I have been in the Lagos policing system for some time, I worked with four CPs and so when I resumed as the CP, I know that LSSTF will be a homecoming for me,” he said. “LSSTF has been trying for us, and I want to say thank you on behalf of all my predecessors and I am imploring that you will give me the same support.”
Addressing the issue raised by the LSSTF boss, Tijani acknowledged past shortcomings while outlining corrective steps. “Taking ownership has always been a big issue from years past. I want to key into the idea that if you don’t take ownership of what you have, you will lose it. What if LSSTF is not there for us? By the time we lose one or two vehicles, what do we fall back on?” he asked.
He assured of a shift in culture within the Command. “I want to believe that will stop soon as we are going to create a monitoring team to check the state of maintenance of our vehicles. Within a short while, it will be done. We are very sorry for what has happened so far. There will be a change in that attitude.”
On operational strategy, the CP emphasized Lagos’ dynamic security environment. “Lagos State Police Command has always been a Command that has a template and we have always been improving on the template because Lagos is a cosmopolitan state that attracts people daily. As the security is dynamic, we have to follow the trend and even go ahead of it to ensure security.”
He further highlighted a new initiative from the Nigeria Police Force headquarters. “Our Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has created the Violent Crime Response Unit. It will be inaugurated in Abuja and he has asked us if we are ready in Lagos, to which I said yes. We call for your support at the LSSTF to make this a success.”
The visit, which featured senior officers including AC Operations, ACP Ehindero Lawrence; Operations Admin, ACP Aka Shittu; AC Admin, ACP Mulero Victoria; PPRO, SP Abimbola Adebisi, and ASP Adeoye Olufemi, culminated in the presentation of a commemorative plaque by CP Tijani to the LSSTF CEO, Dr. Ogunsan to symbolise a renewed partnership anchored on responsibility, sustainability, and a shared commitment to securing Lagos.
