NSCDC Lagos Rallies Stakeholders to Protect Infrastructure

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it is strengthening its partnership with stakeholders to protect critical national infrastructure in Lagos from vandalism and other forms of destruction.

 

The Lagos State Commandant of the corps, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, said this on Tuesday at a stakeholders' engagement the NSCDC organised with the Office of Infrastructure, Federal Ministry of Works.

 

He said the initiative was meant to rally collective action to safeguard public infrastructure, especially the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

 

According to Keshinro, the corps will reach out to market leaders, including the chairmen of the Orile and Ladipo market associations, to discourage the sale of stolen government property and to support efforts against vandalism.

 

"We believe in engagement, and we are doing much of it. We believe that this issue will be brought to a halt," he said.

 

He added that the corps would keep working with relevant stakeholders to tackle the vandalism of critical infrastructure.

 

The Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association, Lagos State, Mr Adetoun Adewale, said the engagement gave stakeholders a chance to work together on lasting solutions to the problem.

 

Adewale said critical assets were vital to national development, and that destroying them put lives at risk and disrupted public services.

 

"We have come to ensure that we synergise.

 

"We will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that all culprits are brought to book," he said.

 

He called on all stakeholders to get involved in fighting vandalism and protecting national assets.

 

The engagement drew representatives of the Federal Ministry of Works, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and vigilance groups, as well as welders and scrap dealers.

 

Participants stressed the need for stronger community participation, intelligence sharing and prompt reporting of suspicious activity to security agencies.

 

The engagement aimed to build a shared sense of responsibility among government agencies, community leaders and private-sector stakeholders for protecting national assets and keeping public infrastructure in service.