The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State command, says investigations have revealed that scrap dealers are the major culprits in vandalism of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).

The NSCDC commandant, Keshinro Adedotun, made this observation during a stakeholders’ meeting on CNAI held on Wednesday in Ikorodu, Lagos.

He said that, therefore, the NSCDC was working assiduously to ensure that scrap dealings are regulated.

Mr Adedotun said: “The whole issue of vandalism and stealing of critical national assets comes down to scrap traders.

“The NSCDC is working on an arrangement to enforce and limit scrap trading in Ikorodu from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the evening because our investigations have revealed that theft and vandalism occur at night.”

Mr Adedotun noted that Ikorodu was one of the communities where constant vandalism of critical assets occurred.

“Which is the reason the NSCDC came up with community engagement initiatives to sensitise the entire senatorial district.

“This engagement covers the entire senatorial district after the first one, and since then, we have been having reports that have assisted us in taming and reducing vandalism,” he said.

The corps commandant urged the stakeholders to secure the country’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.

This, he said, could only be done through collaboration and supporting security agencies.

Mr Adedotun also urged the stakeholders to take ownership of the assets and provide information to the agency in securing the nation’s infrastructure.

“Protection of critical infrastructure is a collective effort between the security agencies, community leaders and the public.

“This has become necessary in order to have stability in the communities,” he said.

In his remarks, Adewale Adedotun, the chairman, Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria, Lagos State, said that the issue of security was a collective responsibility.

He said that the association would fish out all the bad eggs and leave no stone unturned to ensure that all the vandals are brought to book.

“The vandals won’t go unpunished because the critical national assets and infrastructure are our heritage, because they are capital-intensive to install and put in place.

“The assets are for our common good. I see no reason why a sane or right-thinking person will go and vandalise, all in the name of having a value attached to it.

“Let’s collaborate and apprehend all those criminals. We are doing a genuine scrap trading business because we are traders of recyclables. That’s what I can say,” the chairman stressed.

Mr Adedotun noted that metals, which were formerly regarded as waste, are no longer regarded as such; rather, they are a God-given gift to humanity now.

Citing a scriptural reference, he said that metals could be regarded as the rejected stone now turned to be the chief cornerstone.

The scrap dealers’ chairman decried the fact that there was no functional indigenous steel company in Nigeria, though the government was trying to change the narrative.

He said all these factors made metal very valuable, adding that Nigeria doesn’t produce liquid steel anymore; rather, scrap dealers melt and reproduce steel from scraps.

Mr Adedotun said that this was the essence of the collection of scrap metals and the value attached to it.

“We are working frantically to ensure that we do what we call an advocacy and sensitisation awareness campaign.

“To reach out to our people that they should steer clear of crime or any crime-related activities, all in the name of selling recyclable products,” he said.

Also speaking, a traditional ruler, Oba Olukayode Ogunsanwo, represented by Azeez Balogun, commended the NSCDC for protecting the nation’s assets and urged it to intensify efforts to reduce vandalism.

Traditional leaders, vigilante groups, Lagos Neighbourhood and Safety Corps, representatives of telecommunications companies, among others, were present and also spoke at the meeting.

(NAN)