The Peace Corps of Nigeria, Lagos State Command, has stepped up preparations for the safe reopening of schools across Lagos State with a security meeting and operational briefing for its officers.
The briefing, held at the premises of the Oshodi Local Government, was conducted under the guidance of the Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon. (Otunba) Kehinde Almaroof-Oloyede, as part of efforts to strengthen security around schools and communities ahead of resumption.
Speaking at the meeting, the Lagos State Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Amb. Dr. Badmus Akeem Abayomi, charged officers to remain proactive, vigilant and security-conscious within their respective areas of responsibility.
Badmus stressed that the safety and wellbeing of pupils, students, teachers and other members of the school community must remain a major priority as schools reopen.
He said officers must not wait for security incidents to occur before taking action, urging them to pay close attention to their surroundings and promptly identify emerging threats.
“As our schools resume, our officers must understand that we are not waiting for incidents to happen before we act. We must be proactive, observant and conscious of our immediate environment. The safety of our children and teachers is a collective responsibility, and the Peace Corps will continue to play its part in supporting safer school environments across Lagos State.”
The Commandant directed officers to maintain effective communication, identify potential security threats early, engage relevant stakeholders and promptly escalate credible security concerns to the appropriate security agencies.
He said the renewed operational posture was in line with the developmental and security agenda of the Lagos State Government, THEMES+, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, particularly the administration’s commitment to building a safer, more secure and prosperous Lagos.
Badmus added that the Peace Corps of Nigeria remained committed to supporting government institutions and other security stakeholders through community engagement, school safety, neighbourhood vigilance, peace education and timely intelligence sharing.
The meeting ended with a renewed charge to officers to demonstrate discipline, professionalism and commitment as they resume duties around schools and communities across Oshodi and other parts of Lagos State.
“Our presence must be preventive, our conduct professional, and our priority the safety of our people—especially our children,” the Commandant said.