The Ogun command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, infrastructure operators, and communities to safeguard critical national assets in the state.

The commandant, Remilekun Ekundayo, made the call on Thursday in Abeokuta at a one-day stakeholders meeting organised by the command.

The meeting had the theme “Protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) through effective cooperation, collaboration, and coordination.”

Ms Ekundayo emphasised the need to collectively safeguard infrastructures and facilities that are vital to the nation’s economic stability, public health, and security.

She listed such facilities as power transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, rail networks, communication facilities, industrial complexes, and the Gateway International Airport, among others.

The commandant noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had designated the NSCDC as the lead agency for CNAI protection with the mandate to monitor threats, conduct risk assessments, coordinate responses, and prosecute offenders.

”The corps is fully committed to this mandate, but we need the support and collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure effective protection,” Ms Ekundayo said.

She identified vandalism, theft, sabotage, insider betrayal, cyberattacks, and natural disasters as major threats to CNAI in Ogun State.

Ms Ekundayo highlighted challenges such as inadequate logistics, poor inter-agency coordination, and delayed information sharing, recommending regular review meetings and timely incident reporting to enhance CNAI protection.

She, however, proposed strategies for effective CNAI protection, including enhanced surveillance, intelligence sharing, joint task force operations, and a state-level CNAI security task team.

Former police commissioner in Ogun, CP Edward Ajogun, noted that the protection of national assets in Nigeria requires inter-agency cooperation among security agencies through information sharing, joint patrols, and joint operations.

“In protecting national infrastructure, all hands must be on deck. It is an inter-agency matter that requires information sharing, joint patrols, and cooperative operations,” he said

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, AIG Olusola Subair, emphasised that security is now a collective responsibility, requiring joint efforts beyond government alone.

Mr Subair, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-Ethnic Affairs, Hadi Sanni, noted that the traditional reliance on security agencies alone is not sustainable due to limited manpower and a growing population.

(NAN)