The effectiveness of any security system ultimately depends on the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of the men and women entrusted with protecting society. Yet, in the relentless pursuit of public safety, security personnel often neglect their own health, exposing themselves to preventable illnesses, burnout, and life-threatening medical conditions. It was this critical but often overlooked reality that took centre stage at the June edition of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Multi-Agency Statewide Training Programme, where frontline operatives were challenged to make personal wellness a professional responsibility.
Speaking during a dedicated wellness session titled “Me, My Health and I: Protecting the Protector,” Executive Director and Deputy Director (Clinical Services) at Anantis Pediatric and Multispecialist Hospital, Dr. Diya Alade Oluwadamola, urged security operatives to place their health at the forefront of their daily decision-making.
According to the physician, popularly known as “The Celebrity Doctor,” many security personnel devote their lives to protecting citizens while inadvertently neglecting their own wellbeing. “Most of these security personnel have made it a point of duty to protect the citizens, but it looks like nobody is protecting them,” he said. “The only people who can truly protect them are themselves.”
Dr. Diya emphasized that every choice relating to nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and preventive healthcare directly impacts an officer’s effectiveness and longevity. “Every decision they take, every choice they make, every food they put in their mouth, every hour of sleep they get should be prioritised because their health is the most important investment they have,” he stated.
Highlighting the dangers of chronic stress within the security profession, Dr. Diya warned that prolonged exposure to stressful conditions often contributes to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and other metabolic disorders that frequently go undetected until severe complications arise.“Stress is a trigger for most of these metabolic diseases,” he explained. “Because of the demands of their work, many officers do not eat properly, exercise regularly, undergo annual medical checks, or even know their health numbers.”
He advised participants to routinely monitor key health indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and other vital health metrics, stressing that prevention remains far more effective than treatment.“You cannot pour from an empty cup,” he told participants. “Take care of yourself first. Know your numbers, go for your health checks, sleep well, eat healthy, drink water, exercise appropriately, and reduce stress as much as possible.”
The wellness session aligned closely with the broader objectives of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), in organizing the monthly training program, which has increasingly adopted a holistic approach to capacity development for security personnel.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, reminded participants that effective security operations require not only tactical competence but also resilience, preparedness, professionalism, and overall wellbeing. He noted that the Fund deliberately incorporated health and wellness components into its training curriculum because operational effectiveness is closely linked to the physical and mental condition of officers serving on the frontline. His speech was delivered by the Director of Administration, Mr. Adegbola Lewis.
The wellness session formed part of the June edition of the LSSTF Multi-Agency Statewide Training Programme attended by representatives of the Lagos State Police Command, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Man O’ War, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, among other security agencies, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
