The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged 1,800 newly trained law enforcement officers to uphold professionalism, discipline, integrity and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Thursday at the 2026 passing-out parade of the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute, where officers from seven state law enforcement agencies graduated from a mandatory in-service training programme.
The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, said effective law enforcement was essential to good governance and the creation of a safe environment for residents, businesses, investors and visitors.
“Effective law enforcement is therefore an essential pillar of good governance. Our officers must be adequately trained, professionally equipped, and guided by clear standards of conduct to discharge their responsibilities effectively,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu described the passing-out parade as a significant milestone in the officers’ professional development, noting that their responsibilities extended beyond enforcing laws to earning public trust through responsible conduct, impartiality and service.
He identified discipline and integrity, respect for the rule of law, professionalism and competence, respect for the public, and accountability and service as the five fundamental principles that should guide the officers in carrying out their duties.
“Today is a proud moment, but it is also the beginning of a demanding responsibility,” the governor said.
He stressed that the officers must respect the rights of residents and treat members of the public fairly, noting that public cooperation with law enforcement agencies depended largely on the conduct of their personnel.
“At the same time, law enforcement officers must understand that public cooperation is strengthened when citizens are treated fairly, their concerns are heard, and their rights are respected,” he said.
The governor also called on residents to cooperate with law enforcement officers by obeying lawful directives, respecting public regulations, protecting public infrastructure and reporting concerns through appropriate channels.
He said the Lagos State Government remained committed to strengthening institutions responsible for public safety, effective governance and the orderly management of the state’s urban environment.
According to him, the government’s vision is to create an environment where laws and regulations are respected, public spaces are properly managed, businesses operate in an orderly manner, and residents can pursue their aspirations in peace and security.
Sanwo-Olu urged LETI’s management to sustain its commitment to quality training, ethical standards and professional competence, adding that the changing demands of law enforcement required officers who were knowledgeable, emotionally mature, physically prepared and technologically aware.
“The true value of today’s ceremony will be demonstrated in the conduct of these officers in the field,” he said.
Earlier, the Head and Chief Executive Officer of LETI, Taiwo Bonnie, said the 1,800 officers were drawn from seven law enforcement agencies in Lagos State.
The agencies are the Vehicle Inspection Service, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Community-Based Development, Lagos State Parking Authority and Lagos State Waterways Authority.
Bonnie said the training was designed to improve the officers’ professional capacity and equip them with the knowledge, skills and attitude required to meet the demands of modern law enforcement.
She said the curriculum covered law enforcement, technology, self-development, teamwork, inter-agency collaboration, health and wellness, stress management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first-response skills, physical fitness and field exercises.
While congratulating the graduates, the LETI chief executive urged them to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme when they returned to their respective duty posts.
She called on the officers to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, discipline, courage, fairness, restraint and accountability.
Bonnie said the institute remained committed to building a modern, responsive and innovative training institution capable of developing the personnel required for effective law enforcement in the 21st century.
She commended the state government, the institute’s management and staff, facilitators, instructors, medical professionals and partners for their contributions to the successful completion of the training.
Reminding the officers that their conduct would determine the level of respect they commanded from the public, she said, “Your uniform represents authority, but your character determines the respect you command.”
She urged them to protect the dignity of the people they served and contribute to building a safer, more orderly and prosperous Lagos State.
Also speaking at the passing-out ceremony, the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and other stakeholders at the event pledged continued support for LETI to strengthen the capacity, professionalism and efficiency of law enforcement officers in the state.
The stakeholders pledged goodwill messages at the 2026 passing-out parade of officers who completed LETI’s mandatory in-service training programme.
The Director of Administration of the LSSTF, Lewis Adebola, said the agency had remained committed to training law enforcement personnel and would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving their performance.
Adebola commended LETI for sustaining its training programmes, noting that officers from federal security agencies also participated in some of the institute’s capacity-building exercises.
He said LETI conducted monthly training for 100 officers drawn from four security agencies, stressing the importance of continuous training and retraining in helping officers discharge their responsibilities effectively.
The LSSTF pledged to maintain its partnership with the institute and support efforts to improve law enforcement standards in Lagos State.
In his goodwill message, Adio Moses commended LETI for its contributions to training law enforcement personnel.
Moses highlighted the importance of improving the educational qualifications and professional development of law enforcement personnel.
He said opportunities for further education could help officers improve their knowledge, career prospects and ability to contribute to public service beyond their routine field responsibilities.
Moses disclosed that educational programmes had been introduced for local government personnel, including certificate courses, while the state government had also adopted initiatives to help its workforce improve their educational qualifications.
He proposed extending similar opportunities to LETI personnel, arguing that continued education would complement practical training and strengthen the institute’s capacity to develop competent law enforcement officers.
Moses urged LETI to consider long-term training programmes that would enable its personnel to acquire additional qualifications and improve their career progression.
One of the graduating officers, Adesanyo Olubayo, appreciated the state governor and the management of LETI for their continued support throughout the training.
“LETI also provided an ambulance and other medical support to the trainees throughout the training.
“We promise to make all the training we have learnt to good use and for the betterment of Lagos State,” Olubayo said.