#EndSARS: LSSTF throws support for police reform

The Lagos State government through the State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), said there is an urgent need for police reform in the country, positing that with a clear vision, prudent and efficient ways of applying meagre resources the country can achieve people orientated, diligent and successful policing.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun, stated this in a statement, noting that the commitment of LSSTF as encapsulated in the success recorded with Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the state was a proof that decent modern policing was possible in Nigeria.

According to Balogun, LSSTF identifies with everyone demanding for the end of police brutality and the reform of the Nigeria Police Force, saying the Agency understood the challenges of the people and acknowledge their resilience and commitment.

This was just as he said the state government equally understood the nexus “between security and prosperity as there can be no meaningful development without security.”

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“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 to carry out their statutory responsibilities. The LSSTF is not a security agency,” he said.

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Speaking further, Balogun said LSSTF had in the last 13 years continued to solicit for voluntary donation in order to improve the operational equipment, logistics and training for security operatives in Lagos especially the 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,” Balogun stated.