The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has strengthened collaboration with relevant stakeholders to protect critical national infrastructure against vandalism and other forms of destruction.
The Lagos State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Adetoun Keshinro, said this at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the corps in collaboration with the Office of Infrastructure, Federal Ministry of Works, in Lagos State.
The event took place on Tuesday.
Keshinro said the initiative aimed to promote collective efforts to safeguard public infrastructure, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He said the corps would engage market leaders, including the chairmen of Orile and Ladipo market associations, to discourage the sale of stolen government property and strengthen efforts to curb 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 stressed that the corps would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to address vandalism of critical infrastructure.
The Chairman of Scrap Dealers Association, Lagos State, Mr Adetoun Adewale, said the engagement provided an opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate toward finding lasting solutions to the menace.
Adewale said that critical assets were essential to national development, adding that their destruction endangered lives 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 for involvement of all stakeholders in addressing vandalism and ensuring protection of national assets.
Newsextra24 reports that the engagement attracted representatives of the Federal Ministry of Works, Nigeria Communications Commission, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and vigilance groups as well as welders and scrap dealers.
They emphasised the need for stronger community participation, intelligence sharing and prompt reporting of suspicious activities to security agencies.
The engagement was aimed at promoting collective responsibility among government agencies, community leaders and private sector stakeholders in protecting national assets and ensuring sustainability of public infrastructure.
