The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has urged security agencies to cultivate a strong maintenance culture in handling assets, especially vehicles, communication gadgets and tactical equipment provided to them.
Executive Secretary of the Fund, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, made the appeal yesterday during a visit by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, to his office in Alausa, Ikeja.
Ogunsan noted that while acquiring assets is not a major challenge, maintaining them for longevity remains a critical problem.
He said that across Lagos’ security architecture, billions of naira are invested in operational tools, including vehicles, communication gadgets and tactical equipment, yet their lifespan often depends on a less visible but crucial factor — a culture of ownership.
“Without it, investments depreciate rapidly, operational efficiency declines and public trust is eroded,” he said.
Commending the police commissioner, Ogunsan described Tijani as a people-oriented and disciplined officer.
“CP Fatai Tijani is a unique person. He is people-oriented, kind and tough. I saw this a few days ago when a report came that someone was not using police assets properly, and he immediately ordered that the person be disciplined,” he said.
He, however, stressed the need to address the long-standing issue of poor maintenance culture among officers, warning that without a strong sense of ownership, even the most robust investments could quickly deteriorate.
“We pride ourselves as the first security trust fund in Nigeria, and other states are following our model. However, one issue continues to bother us — ownership and maintenance culture among officers. You can imagine the effort we put into securing approvals for funds to provide these assets. We need your support on this,” he added.
Ogunsan also proposed the establishment of a Lagos Police Command Asset Monitoring Unit, pledging support to ensure its effectiveness.
“I believe in walking the talk. When you constitute and launch this unit, I will provide a brand new operational vehicle. I also suggest that members of the unit be empowered, where possible, to sanction anyone who violates maintenance standards,” he said.
In his response, CP Tijani expressed appreciation for the support of the LSSTF and pledged to strengthen accountability within the command.
“I have served in the Lagos policing system for some time and worked with four commissioners. So, when I resumed as CP, I knew LSSTF would feel like home. The fund has been very supportive, and I thank you on behalf of my predecessors. I also seek the same support going forward,” he said.
Addressing the concerns raised, Tijani acknowledged past lapses and outlined plans for reform.
“Ownership has always been a major issue over the years. If you don’t take ownership of what you have, you will lose it. If LSSTF were not there for us, what would happen when we lose operational vehicles? What would we fall back on?” he queried.
He assured that the command would soon establish a monitoring team to oversee the maintenance of its assets.
“We are taking steps to change this narrative. A monitoring team will soon be set up to assess the condition of our vehicles and other equipment. We regret past shortcomings, but there will be a change in attitude,” he said.
On operational strategy, the commissioner highlighted the evolving security landscape of Lagos.
“The Lagos State Police Command has always operated with a strategic template, which we continuously improve upon. Lagos is a cosmopolitan state with a constantly growing population, so our security approach must be dynamic and proactive,” he said.
Tijani also revealed a new initiative by the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Inspector-General of Police has established the Violent Crime Response Unit, which will soon be inaugurated in Abuja. We have indicated readiness in Lagos and are seeking LSSTF’s support to ensure its success,” he added.
