Police train UNILAG security personnel for improved performance

Mr Sunday Alao, Chief Security Officer (CSO), University of Lagos, says partnering with the Nigeria Police has given the university  an edge in tackling crime on campus.

Alao made the disclosure in an interview with the Nigerian NewsDirect.

He reacted to the graduation of 40 security personnel of the university from the Police College, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

He said that training and retraining of security personnel of the institution by the police had developed their capacities and boosted their morale.

The CSO praised the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and other members of the university’s management for encouraging the security unit of the institution.

“This partnership with the Nigeria Police started since 1994 when the first set of security  personnel was trained by the police. The second set  followed in 1995.

“It then stopped and was resuscitated in 2011. Between 1994  and 2011, we trained 75 personnel, but since 2018 when the current management took over leadership till date, we have trained a total of 80 personnel.

“In 2019, 40 of them were trained. Due to COVID-19 in 2020, we did not carry out any training. In 2021, we  trained another 40, who are the ones we are celebrating today,” he said.

The CSO said that the training, which started in November, lasted for six weeks.

“That is why it spilled over to early 2022.”

Alao said that the security personnel were trained in various skills, including writing of security reports.

He said that the initiative had helped the entire university system.

“Our men have undergone the basic police training and are now equipped with various skills such as writing security report and writing of police reports for students.

“The only thing they cannot do is to carry arms. The training is a moral booster.

“It  encouraged them to be very observant. This has reduced car theft to the barest minimum in the university,” he said.

The CSO hailed UNILAG’s management for prioritizing safety of lives and property.