LSSTF ES/CEO, Ogunsan to Security Agencies: Put Lagos School Children at the Heart of Security Operations
By Oki O. Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Schoolchildren traveling to and fro the bustling city of Lagos with their backpacks every weekday are carrying more than books, they are carrying a parent’s hopes, a family’s expectations, a school’s investment, and the promise of a country’s future. Their safety on a busy road, on a lonely bus stop, through a neighbourhood, and within the learning environment is a concern never to be taken for granted. The protection of children is not periphery on the Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s security agenda, it is his priority intention and a clear measure of purpose.
It is from this perspective that Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), has issued a compelling charge to the state’s security architecture to put Lagos schoolchildren on top priority of their security operations. Ogunsan spoke today when the General Manager of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Prince Dr. Ifalade Oyekan led the Commandant, Patriot Amb. Badmus Akeem Abayomi and the management team of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Lagos State Command on a courtesy visit to his office at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja. “A top priority on the Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s security agenda for Lagos is the safety of every school children and their learning environment,” Ogunsan declared.
He called the attention of all security agencies to what he described as a responsibility that must command the highest level of vigilance. “Our children are our pride. They are precious seeds. Every security agency in Lagos State must ensure that our children are safe in the urban centre, inner-city, or in the riverine area of Lagos.”
For Ogunsan, the responsibility extends beyond the school gates. He stressed that children must be protected wherever they may be. “Children are Lagosians too. Whether they are in school, at home, on the road and on the streets, we want them to be safe and secure.”
He further emphasised the importance of giving parents, school administrators and other stakeholders confidence that the government and the security community are standing firmly behind the protection of children. “We want to ensure that their parents, school administrators and other school stakeholders know that the government has their best interest.”
Ogunsan therefore charged the entire security architecture of the state to make child safety a shared operational responsibility. “I am charging every security agency, Armed Forces, Police, paramilitary, and other support agencies to put our school children safety on their priority.”
In his response, the Lagos Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Patriot Amb. Badmus Akeem Abayomi assured that they will play an instrumental role in the safe school project of the Lagos State Government. “We have an active membership of 5000 and a volunteer base of 3000 to 4000 men and women. In Lagos, we have at least 50 men being led by a Commander in all the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos. We are ready to strengthen the safe school project in Lagos State,” the Commandant of the Peace Corps assured.
For Gov. Sanwo-Olu, when schoolchildren return home safely everyday, it is an investment in the Lagos of tomorrow and not merely a security achievement in the interim.
