Campus Security Must Become a Strategic National Priority – LSSTF Boss, Ogunsan; donates 3 vehicles to LASU, LASUSTECH, LASUED for security patrol | Blissful Affairs Online
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has declared that campus security in Nigeria must now be treated as “a strategic national priority,” rather than a mere “administrative function” warning that evolving threats on university campuses mirror the pressures and risks within the wider society, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
He made this assertion on Wednesday during the Lagos Campus Security and Safety Summit held at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, Lagos. The event, organised by the Office of the SSA to the Governor on Students’ Union Affairs – Tertiary Education under the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education, brought together government officials, security professionals, university leaders, student representatives, and law enforcement agencies to address rising threats and social vices in tertiary institutions.
In a compelling keynote themed “Strengthening Strategic Security Operations Towards Curbing Security Threats and Social Vices on Campus,” the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Ogunsan said tertiary institutions reflect the complexities of Lagos State and the nation at large.
According to him, “The pressures, opportunities, and risks that exist in the wider society naturally find expression within campus environments. Cyber-enabled crimes, drug abuse networks, sexual misconduct, and organised criminal infiltration do not stop at campus gates.”
He insisted that campus security must evolve beyond traditional approaches. “The era of purely reactive security is no longer sufficient. Institutions must now embrace strategic security which is built on foresight, intelligence, prevention, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making,” he said.
While technology enables safety and security, Ogunsan noted that technology alone cannot solve security challenges. He quoted renowned security expert Bruce Schneier: “If you think technology can solve your security problems, then you don’t understand the problems and you don’t understand the technology” and added that “technology must operate within strong governance frameworks, clear operational protocols, and strict data protection standards. Poorly governed technology can create new vulnerabilities, including data breaches, privacy violations, and operational inefficiencies. Institutions must therefore ensure that technology adoption is matched with policy clarity, personnel training, and strong oversight structures.”
Demonstrating the Lagos State Security Trust Fund’s practical commitment to safer campuses, Dr. Ogunsan announced the donation of Three (3) security patrol vehicles to the Lagos State University – Ojo, Lagos State University of Education – Ijanikin and Lagos State University of Science and Technology – Ikorodu, targeted at strengthening surveillance and rapid-response capability across Lagos-owned tertiary institutions. In addition, the Fund provided 240 pairs of operational boots to boost the readiness of campus security personnel.
“This intervention will improve patrol coverage, enhance rapid response, and strengthen visible security presence,” the LSSTF boss said, while thanking the Executive Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for emphasising that effective security relies on sustained collaboration between government, institutions, and the private sector.
Dr. Ogunsan affirmed, “A safe campus is one where students feel secure enough to dream and innovate. When we secure our campuses, we secure our future workforce, our future leadership, and our national stability.”
The Lagos Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule, reinforced this perspective, describing campuses as direct reflections of the state’s socio-economic realities. “Our campuses are the microcosm of society. The challenge we face mirrors the pressures of a fast-growing megacity. To talk about campus security in Lagos is therefore to talk about urban governance, youth development, civic responsibility, and social stability. Every effort that is put together to ensure that there is security is worth it,” he said.
He expressed deep appreciation to the LSSTF boss not only for accepting the speaking engagement but for backing his advocacy with action. “We thank Dr. Ogunsan for matching his words with action as he donated vehicles to enhance surveillance in all six tertiary institutions owned by the Lagos State Government,” he added.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the SSA to the Lagos Governor on Student Union Affairs, Hon. Kappo Samuel Olawale stressed the broader significance of the discussion. “The discourse today is not just about security threats on campus but in our communities, because quite a number of our campuses are non-residential, so our students live in nearby communities. The truth is when security is weak, learning will suffer. When our students and staff feel unsafe, excellence becomes impossible,” he said. “This is why we are here to focus on practical and strategic collaborative solutions.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Olohundare Jimoh, described university campuses as “incubators of national leadership, innovation, and social stability.” He warned that persistent insecurity poses a fundamental threat to the country’s educational system. “Insecurity has evolved into a significant social problem with severe consequences for education, the economy, and society by extension,” he said.
CP Olohundare Jimoh gave the remarks during the panel session which also had the Dean of Student Affairs, LASU, Dr. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan and Ag. Dean of Student Affairs, LASUED, Dr. Dawodu Rasheed, which was preceded by a Special Guest Lecture presentation by the Professor of Criminology, LASU, Prof. Adedeji Oyenuga.
CP Jimoh called for strengthened infrastructure, value re-orientation programmes, and joint intelligence frameworks to curb criminalities such as cultism, armed robbery, sexual assault, drug abuse, cybercrime, and gang activities. as key challenges facing campuses today.
According to him, law enforcement presence remains crucial: “Our presence helps deter criminal activities and supports institutional security systems. Crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and public safety education are essential to maintaining peace within and around campuses.”
The Lagos Campus Summit reinforces the importance that the Lagos State Government attaches to security, with the emphasis that the security on Lagos campuses remains foundational to nurturing academic excellence, technological innovation, and the socioeconomic development of Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub.
