The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has announced plans to intensify grassroots engagement in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure by the first quarter of 2026.
The State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, disclosed this on Tuesday during the launch of a community engagement programme with stakeholders across all divisional offices in the state.
Keshinro said the Command had, over the course of the year, carried out a series of engagements involving multiple stakeholders to strengthen the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.
According to him, the engagements brought together security agencies, host communities, owners and operators of critical assets, as well as traditional, institutional and religious leaders.
He explained that the first phase of the initiative focused on Inter-Agency Harmonisation Activities (IHAs), which provided a platform for collaboration among relevant stakeholders. This was followed by targeted community engagements across Lagos State, where discussions were held in clusters to address legal, social and security concerns surrounding critical infrastructure.
The Commandant said the Corps plans to extend the initiative to the grassroots in 2026, with the programme scheduled to commence on January 12, 2026.
He noted that all 15 NSCDC divisional commands in Lagos State would lead community-based engagements within their respective districts, with the aim of encouraging communities to take ownership of critical national assets in their environments.
“Our focus is to make communities see these assets as their own and actively participate in their protection,” Keshinro said.
He added that the initiative aligns with the Corps’ self-help and preventive security strategy, designed to reduce vandalism, sabotage and other threats to national infrastructure.
Keshinro said the year had been marked by extensive security activities, stressing the need for sustained collaboration among security stakeholders as preparations for 2026 begin.
He also noted that recent directives from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces had expanded the responsibilities of the Corps, reaffirming NSCDC’s commitment to discharging its duties despite operational challenges.
The Commandant, however, highlighted the need for increased personnel, equipment and operational resources to effectively carry out the Corps’ mandate, noting that rising security demands require continuous investment in manpower and facilities.
He expressed optimism that the planned grassroots engagements and enhanced collaboration with community stakeholders would deliver measurable improvements in the protection of critical assets by 2026.