As schools reopen across Lagos State, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has urged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to intensify the protection of schools and critical infrastructure across the state.
Ogunsan made the call during his first official visit to the Lagos State Command of the NSCDC, where he also donated thirty ballistic helmets, thirty bulletproof vests and one hundred raincoats to strengthen the operational capacity of the Corps.
He said the protection of children and young people, as well as critical infrastructure, must remain central to Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that the safety of children in schools was essential to securing the nation’s future.
Ogunsan described the NSCDC as a strategic security partner and commended the Corps for its contributions to security in Lagos.
He urged the Command to pay greater attention to school protection, saying children should be able to attend school, learn in peace and return safely to their parents.
The LSSTF boss said the donated equipment was not only an appreciation of the Corps’ efforts but also a call for greater commitment to its responsibilities, particularly in protecting critical infrastructure across Lagos.
He assured the NSCDC of continued support from the Security Trust Fund, promising that additional operational equipment would be provided as resources become available.
Receiving the items, the Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Sunday Keshinro, expressed appreciation to Dr. Ogunsan and the LSSTF, describing the donation as a good gesture that would motivate personnel and enhance their effectiveness in protecting lives, property and critical assets.
The Commandant, however, highlighted the infrastructural challenges confronting the Command.
He disclosed that the Lagos State Government allocated two thousand and twenty-one square metres of land in Alausa on August 9, 2024, for the construction of a new six-storey NSCDC headquarters, but funding constraints had delayed the commencement of the project.
Keshinro appreciated Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, for their roles in securing the land.
He also acknowledged the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for providing another permanent facility at Iponri, which the Command has commenced refurbishing.
The Commandant said the NSCDC currently has fifty division offices and ten area commands spread across Lagos State, reaffirming the Corps’ commitment to maintaining security presence across the state.