Jare Babatunde
Officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA) have been directed to provide security at various schools within the state in line with its mandate to complement the efforts of other security outfits.
Prince (Dr.) Ifalade Oyekan, General Manager of Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), gave the directive during an interactive session with the operatives at Safety Arena, Bolade – Oshodi.
He instructed the officers to always resume at public primary and secondary schools in the State between the hours of 7:00 am and 8:30 am when school children usually resume for academic activities.
Prince Oyekan stated that the move was intended to complement the efforts of other security agencies to secure the entire metropolis, given the security concerns presently being expressed in some parts of the State.
He added that the officers have also been empowered to scrutinise and check the bags of school children before granting them access to school premises, as a way of ensuring that no student has any dangerous weapon that can harm others.
“It gladdens my heart to see how passionate some officers are already complying with these new directives. Some of them have even gone a step further to engage school children on Assembly Ground with security talks before classes”, he said.
“Some of these officers attached to schools where it is difficult and risky for school children to cross major roads went as far as holding the hands of these pupils to safely cross the road. This to me, is all aimed at ensuring that these pupils are safe and secure before, during and after school hours”.
The General Manager explained further that the initiative is in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, especially the “Security and Governance” pillar, stressing that the move is also a way of being security conscious and ensuring the safety of the school children.
