From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command, has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, infrastructure operators, host communities, and the public in safeguarding Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), as a prerequisite for national development.
The call was made during a One-Day Stakeholders’ Summit organised by the Command’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department under the theme, “Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure: Panacea for National Development.”
Declaring the summit open, the State Commandant, Commandant Abbas Mohammed, stated that the protection of critical infrastructure remains fundamental to Nigeria’s security, economic growth, and sustainable development.
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He stressed that while the NSCDC is statutorily mandated to protect Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, the responsibility requires collective action through intelligence sharing, community participation, and strategic partnerships.
The summit featured goodwill messages from the Honourable Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, who emphasised the importance of sustained public enlightenment in mobilising citizens to protect national assets, and the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Yunusa Lade, who underscored the need to safeguard water infrastructure as an essential component of public service delivery and socio-economic development.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Monsurat Isiaka, of the Department of Criminology, University of Ilorin. She advocated intelligence-led security, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and active community engagement as critical strategies for protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure and promoting national development.
Also speaking at the summit, the Head of the Intelligence and Investigation Department, DCC Oshajare Babatunde, highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering, timely investigation, and information sharing in preventing threats to critical infrastructure. The Head of the Anti-Vandal Unit, DCC Idi Garba, examined the growing menace of infrastructure vandalism and called for increased public vigilance and timely reporting of suspicious activities.
The summit provided a platform for stakeholders to review progress in the fight against vandalism, identify existing challenges, and propose practical strategies for strengthening the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.
At the end of the deliberations, participants resolved to deepen collaboration among stakeholders, intensify efforts to curb the illegal market for vandalised items, and ensure the diligent investigation, prosecution, and punishment of offenders to serve as a deterrent against acts of vandalism.
The NSCDC, Kwara State Command, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening stakeholder engagement and partnerships in advancing the effective protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in line with its statutory mandate.
