The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has announced plans to strengthen grassroots engagement in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure in Lagos by the first quarter of 2026.

The state commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, disclosed this on Tuesday, during the launch of a community engagement programme with stakeholders at all divisional offices.

He said that during the year, the NSCDC carried out a series of engagements involving multiple stakeholders to strengthen the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.

“These engagements brought together security agencies, host communities, owners and operators of critical assets, as well as traditional, institutional and religious leaders,” he said.

Mr Keshinro said that the first phase of the engagement involved Inter-Agency Harmonisation Activities (IHAs), which created a platform for collaboration among all stakeholders.

“This was followed by targeted engagements with communities, beginning in Lagos state, where discussions were held in clusters to address legal, social and security concerns surrounding critical infrastructure, ” he said.

According to him, the corps plans to take the initiative further to the grassroots in 2026.

“The programme, scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026, will see all 15 NSCDC divisional commands in Lagos State leading community-based engagements across their respective districts. Our focus is to make communities take ownership of critical national assets within their environment. By engaging communities directly at the grassroots level, we are encouraging them to see these assets as their own and to actively participate in their protection, ” he said.

The NSCDC boss said that the initiative aligns with the corps’ broader self-help and preventive security strategy, aimed at reducing vandalism, sabotage and other threats to national infrastructure.

The commandant said the year was marked by extensive security activities and emphasised the need for continuous collaboration among security stakeholders as preparations for 2026 began. Mr Keshinro also said that recent directives from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had placed increased responsibilities on the corps.

He assured that the NSCDC remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities despite operational challenges.

Meanwhile, he said that the corps requires more personnel, equipment and operational resources to effectively carry out its mandate.

“Security demands are increasing, and resources can never be enough; as we move forward, we will continue to require more men, more equipment and improved facilities to meet these challenges and deliver effectively on our duties, ” he said.

He expressed optimism that the planned engagements and improved collaboration with community stakeholders will yield measurable progress by 2026.

(NAN)