The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the LSSTF, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, made the call yesterday during his first official visit to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The visit was not only a familiarisation engagement but also a show of support for the Corps, as Ogunsan presented 30 bulletproof vests, 30 ballistic helmets and 100 raincoats to personnel of the command.
The items, according to the LSSTF chief, were intended to strengthen the operational capacity of officers working to protect lives, property and vital infrastructure across Lagos.
Speaking during the visit, which featured a guard of honour and a formal reception, Ogunsan commended the NSCDC for its contribution to security in the state and urged the command to intensify its efforts in protecting schools, particularly at a time when children are returning to classrooms.
He stressed that protecting children should be regarded as more than a routine security responsibility, warning that failure to safeguard young people could have serious consequences for the country's future.
“I want to plead with you because of the exploits that you do in one area, that is school protection. Our children need to be safe. If we don’t do anything for the young ones, it’s like we are preparing for a very horrible future for ourselves,” he said.
Ogunsan described the NSCDC as an important partner in the state's security architecture, saying the Corps had earned his respect through its mandate, activities and services.
“The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has won my heart as a person for many years. Look through your mandate, your activities and the services you render to this great country, especially to Lagos that I represent. Very outstanding performance you have given the state,” he said.
He explained that the donation was both an expression of appreciation for the Corps' work and an encouragement to its personnel to sustain and improve their performance.
Beyond the immediate donation, Ogunsan assured the command of the LSSTF's continued support, promising that more operational equipment would be made available as resources permitted.
The intervention comes at a time when the responsibilities of security agencies around schools extend beyond responding to conventional security threats to ensuring that children can learn in environments where they feel protected.
For parents sending their children back to school, the presence and preparedness of security personnel around educational institutions can provide an important measure of reassurance, particularly in a densely populated state such as Lagos.
NSCDC: Donation Will Boost Personnel's Morale
Receiving the equipment, the Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, Adedotun Sunday Keshinro, thanked Ogunsan and the LSSTF for the gesture, describing the donation as “a very good gesture.”
Keshinro said the equipment would strengthen the confidence of officers in the field and enhance their ability to protect lives and property, including critical assets located across the state.
The commandant, however, used the occasion to highlight a major challenge facing the command: inadequate infrastructure.
He disclosed that the Lagos State Government had allocated 2,021 square metres of land in Alausa on August 9, 2024, for the construction of a new six-storey headquarters for the NSCDC.
According to him, the project has yet to commence because of funding constraints.
Keshinro expressed appreciation to Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, for their roles in securing the land for the proposed headquarters.
He also acknowledged the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for providing another permanent facility at Iponri, which the command has already commenced refurbishing.
Despite the infrastructure challenges, Keshinro said the command remained committed to maintaining a strong security presence across Lagos.
The NSCDC currently operates through 50 divisional offices and 10 area commands spread across the state, a structure that enables the Corps to maintain a presence in communities and respond to security responsibilities across different parts of Lagos.
As schools reopen and daily activities increase across the metropolis, the renewed call for stronger school protection places the NSCDC and other security agencies at the centre of efforts to create safer learning environments while protecting the infrastructure on which the state's social and economic activities depend.