₦airaland Forum

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) identifies with everyone demanding for the end of Police brutality and the reform of the Nigeria Police Force. We understand the challenges of the people, and acknowledge your resilience and commitment.

The Lagos State Government understands the strong connection between security and prosperity as there can be no meaningful development without security. Therefore, in 2007 after the review of the security architecture the Government identified the resource deficit of security agencies operating in the State as the main reason for their inefficiency, hence the creation of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund by a law of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The Fund is an interventionist agency with the mandate to mobilize resources for the improvement of the operational capacity of security agencies operating in Lagos to enable them carry out their statutory responsibilities. The LSSTF is not a security agency!

In the last 13 years the LSSTF has continued to solicit for voluntary donation in order to improve the operational equipment, logistics and training for security operatives in Lagos especially the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command.

A clear success story of the Fund is the RRS which has enjoyed accolades from the public even during this period. It should be noted that the cerebral leadership of the Commander who does not tolerate misconduct of his men and the provision of equipment, logistics and training by the Fund is responsible for the RRS feat. It should be emphasized that the training of the operatives are in areas such as Etiquette, Professionalism, Crisis De-escalation and Crime management to mention a few.

It is evident that the role the Fund has played over the years has enabled the efficient and sustainable operation of Policing in Lagos. Therefore, proper leadership, equipment, modern policing policies, especially training and retraining are required for the reformation of the Nigeria Police Force for better delivery of their statutory duties.

While the Fund supports the review of the operations of the Police in line with the modern realities of today and to reflect the civil nature which is expected in a democratic dispensation, it is of the opinion that the issues of operational capacity and logistics (including good remuneration, welfare, medical evaluation, descent accommodation amongst other things) must also be addressed to improve the quality of the deliverables by the police.

The commitment of LSSTF has shown that with a clear vision, prudent and efficient ways of applying meager resources we can effect a better, people orientated, diligent and successful policing in Nigeria as encapsulated in the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

It is in view of the above that the Fund continues to solicit for donations to provide better equipment, logistics and training for improved efficiency of the police and other security agencies in the Lagos state.

Signed,


Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun
Executive Secretary/CEO
Lagos State Security Trust Fund

…Board pledges to reinvigorate Fund for improved security

On Tuesday 21st July 2020, the Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos State inaugurated the newly constituted Members of the Board of Trustees of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

They are Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti as Chairman of the Board, other members are Mr. Segun Agbaje, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, DIG. Agboola Oshodi-Glover (Rtd.), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Otunba Niyi Adewunmi, Mr. Emeka Onwuka, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, and Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, as the Fund’s Executive Secretary/CEO‬‬‬‬‬.

At the inauguration ceremony Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged the continuous support of his administration noting that the activities of the LSSTF has strengthened the operational capacities of security agencies and acknowledged the contributions of corporate organizations making the LSSTF a model for other states and even at the National level. He thanked the past Board of Trustees for their service and assured the public that the new Board members are accomplished individuals also committed to a prosperous Lagos.

He further assured the Board that the Executive Secretary, who is an accomplished and seasoned technocrat, has the wealth of experience and understands the importance and role of the Security Trust Fund in the actualization of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.

The Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti in his vote of acceptance pledged that the new Board will build on the successes of its predecessors to advance the protection of lives, property, and businesses for the prosperity of all and to also actualize the vision that would position Lagos to efficiently deploy cutting-edge thinking and technology to prevent crime and criminality in the State.

While recognizing the negative effect of COVID-19 on the economy, the Executive Secretary/CEO Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun noted that “security remains a cardinal requirement to aid in revamping the economy and is optimistic that the private sector will continue to make voluntary contribution to the Fund”.

Over the years Lagos State has remained one of the most peaceful locations in Nigeria, the preferred destination for international business with an ever-growing population, but some may wonder how the 4th largest economy on the African Continent has maintained the security level in the State?

Lagos State has unrelentingly complimented the effort of the Federal Government of the Republic of Nigeria in the provision of crime-fighting equipment and logistics for security agencies operating in the State through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

The Fund has over the years continued to ensure the training and retraining of the officers, provision of operational vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Gunboats, motorbikes, fuelled security patrols, frequent replacements of parts especially consumables such as tyres and batteries due to the rigorous activities the vehicles undergo in addition to general maintenance when necessary amongst others, for the security agencies in the State. These interventions have therefore improved the operational capacity of the operatives and translated to improved security.

The operatives of the security agencies have remained efficient and selfless in the discharge of their duties because they enjoy assurance of optimum healthcare service through the intervention of the Fund in the provision of medical supplies and logistics including generator and ambulance for the Police Hospital, Falomo and the RRS Clinic.

To also boost the morale and self-esteem of the men, the Fund provided uniforms and complete accouterments (shoulder badges, operational boots, beret, raincoats, rain boots, and belts) for the 2000 men of the RRS while their allowances are promptly paid as and when due by the Lagos State Government.

All these interventions help to provide necessary tools, skills and morale required by the security agencies to collectively enhance the security architecture in the State.

The Fund in year 2020 intends to focus on programmes, dialogues, civic engagement and other communication strategies which will combat the root causes of crime through Research and Development schemes which will concentrate on extensive study of crime mapping and demography of crime in Lagos, identifying critical needs of security agencies in the state and other programmes in addition to the provision of critical crime fighting equipment for the Police and other security agencies.

These programmes will be targeted at societal ills such as drug abuse, cultism and general deviant behaviors with the aim of disabusing the minds of the teenagers and youths from such deviant behavior as experience has shown that preventive measures are more efficient, cost effective and the ultimate outcomes are more successful while the Police can effectively deal with the few that may want to test our collective resolve to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for individual and corporate advancement.

It must be emphasized that as the State and her residents enjoy a level of safety, security expenses remains a recurrent expenditure that cannot be taken with levity and would require everyone to contribute to the LSSTF in order to continue to guarantee the prosperity and development of all in the State.


In 2020, the LSSTF plans to support the Lagos State Police Command with Anti-riot and non-lethal equipment which will guarantee safety of lives and properties in the State in event of any public disturbance. Also the Fund intends to support the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA) in the area of training and capacity building as it has been established that community policing is the surest way of preventing crime.

Finally, the Fund implores citizens to be more vigilant and report any suspicious activities to relevant authority through the 112 & 767 toll free numbers.

As it is fondly said that Security remains an integral accept of societal development, hence the need to improve the security architecture of the State cannot be overemphasized.

In recent times the internet got struck by the news of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Ogudu Police Station in Lagos, Superintendent of Police Mrs. Celestina Kalu, who rescued an orphan, Friday Ajabor, in need of critical medical attention after sustaining a gunshot injury by a two-man robbery gang in Ojota.

The exemplary conduct of SP. Celestina Kalu saved the life of Mr. Friday Ajabor, which led to her being rewarded by His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos. The act which is the essence of public service is admirable by all and is worth emulating by security operatives and Lagosians in general.

While we can say that “nothing can be compared to a kind heart”, it is noteworthy to state that the continuous training and re-orientation of Security operatives in the State come to play in several instances where we see operatives go beyond the limit of their official duty to help fellow humans, examples are officers of the LASTMA helping citizens wheel out broken down vehicles off the road, Officers of the RRS giving fuel to motorists who are out of supply and stand by motorists when there is a need to carry out quick repairs on their vehicles on the highways, to mention a few.

Therefore to ensure that Security Agencies scale up their mode of operations, operational tools must be available for them to better increase their effectiveness and surveillance across the State this would result in an improved security of lives and property.

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund which has not relented in carrying out its primary objectives of providing security equipment, logistics, training and re-training of operatives is able to sustain its activities through funds generated from donations by the public sector, private organization and well-meaning individuals in the State.

The Fund gives kudos to the police officer SP. Celestina Kalu for her action and solicit that the public continually play their parts in donating to the Lagos State security Trust Fund which will translate to the improvement of the operational capacity of security agencies in Lagos State.