The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on Thursday solicited the support of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSC) in curbing cultism and other social vices in primary schools in the state.
Dr. Abdul Ganiyu Shopeyin, the State Chairman of SUBEB, sought for the partnership when the board visited the LNSCA headquarter’s Safety Arena, at Oshodi, Lagos.
Shopeyin said that SUBEB was saddled with the responsibility of managing public primary schools in the state and ensurkng that lives of pupils and property of the schools were safe.
He lamented that the rate of cult related activities in primary schools in the state was alarming.
“It is hard to note that we have observed cultism in primary schools. Apart from this, kidnapping and other crimes are also affecting primary school pupils,” he said.
The chairman added that the board deemed it fit to synergise with the agency with a view to ensuring that the operatives had direct contact with primary schools to tackle cultism and other inherent vices.
He urged the LNSA to fashion out strategies that would allow its members render assistance in dousing the threat of cultism and other vices in schools.
In his response, LNSA Chairman, DIG Israel Ajao (rtd), who lamented the challenge of shortage of manpower in the agency, promised to fashion out ways to grant SUBEB ‘s request.
Ajao said that the manpower shortage was due to deaths, resignation and abscondment of officers.
“The manpower of the agency has dropped from its initial 5,700 to 5, 603 which is not enough to cover a densely populated state like Lagos according to United Nations Standard,” he said.
He said that state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had promised to meet the challenge of manpower shortage and other challenges the agency was currently facing.
Ajao promised that agency’s operatives would monitor primary schools at critical hours which included resumption time, closing time, during the end of the term activities and sporting activities.
Chief Tunde Aboyade, LNSA Board member representing Ikeja Division, said that with the establishment of contact with primary schools’ officials, formation of security clubs was feasible.
He said this would allow LNSA operatives the opportunity to go into schools to give lectures and gather information.
Aboyade noted that the SUBEB visit was a step in the right direction adding that “cultism is becoming a monster, and if not quickly addressed, can snowball into something uncontrollable.”
LNSA Board member representing Lagos Division, Mr Ishola Laguda, suggested the introduction of security studies in primary schools curriculum.
Laguda urged primary school officials to desist from associating with individuals with questionable characters.
LNSA Executive Secretary, Barr. Gboyega Bajulaiye, said the use of interpersonal approach could give LNSC the opportunity to get information about black spots.
