The Lagos State Security Trust Fund has donated 50 bulletproof vests, 50 ballistic helmets and 100 raincoats to the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Lagos, while urging them to intensify their efforts in the protection of lives and properties.
The Executive Secretary of the LSSTF, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, said in a statement on Tuesday that the presentation was made at the NNS Beecroft headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, as security agencies intensify preparations to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure across the state ahead of the forthcoming election period.
He noted that the intervention followed the Fund’s assessment of operational gaps within security formations across the state.
“It is a normal tradition as the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to constantly visit all the security agencies in the state to see how they are doing, to ensure that we boost the morale of the officers and encourage the commanders,” the statement said.
Ogunsan added that the latest assessment at NNS Beecroft led to the provision of the protective equipment, while further interventions were being considered.
“Today we have come here to NNS Beecroft to donate 50 units of ballistic helmets, 50 units of bulletproof vests. We’ve also donated 100 units of raincoats because of the season we are in now. And there are other things that we have discussed behind closed doors that we are going to address very shortly,” he said.
He said the donations were in line with the LSSTF’s mandate to identify and address operational deficiencies among recognised security agencies operating in Lagos.
“That is our core mandate; that is our responsibility. We are established as an interventionist agency to address and fill all the gaps that we feel are there,” Ogunsan stated.
He said the ultimate objective of the interventions was to improve the performance of security agencies and strengthen the protection of lives and property, particularly during sensitive periods.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. All these interventions across all security agencies are definitely expected to yield more from them. And the most important thing is security, safety of lives and property, especially now that we are approaching a very sensitive period, the elections,” he said.
Receiving the items, the Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Adams Aliu, appreciated the Lagos State Government and the LSSTF for the intervention, describing it as a significant boost to the Navy’s internal security operations.
He said the equipment would support the Navy’s efforts to secure Lagos waterways and adjoining land areas, while highlighting the Armed Forces’ constitutional responsibility to provide military aid to civil authorities.
In a related development, the statement noted that Ogunsan, alongside Aliu, paid a courtesy visit to the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Abdullahi Mustapha, at the command’s headquarters in Apapa.
The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Navy and civil authorities in enhancing security and safety in Lagos and Nigeria.