The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raised concern over what it describes as a dangerous rise in public apathy towards the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), warning that silence and indifference at community level often create room for sabotage, vandalism, and avoidable national losses.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, made this position known at the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute in Abuja, stressing that no security architecture can succeed in isolation from the people it is designed to protect.
According to him, national assets such as pipelines, power installations, communication facilities, and other strategic infrastructure exist within communities, making residents the first line of observation, alert, and protection, whether active or passive.
He cautioned that when communities look away in the face of suspicious activities, minor incidents often escalate into major security breaches with far-reaching consequences on the economy and national wellbeing.
Prof. Audi reaffirmed that the NSCDC remains fully committed to its statutory mandate of safeguarding critical national assets, but emphasized that sustainable protection depends on shared responsibility, where citizens move from silence to vigilance, and from bystanders to active stakeholders.
He further highlighted ongoing efforts by the Corps to deepen inter-agency collaboration, cooperation, and coordination with sister security agencies, aimed at building a more unified, intelligence-driven response to threats against national infrastructure.
He also noted that government is intensifying measures to ensure stiffer penalties for offenders and faster administration of justice, describing accountability as a key pillar in deterring acts of sabotage.
Reiterating the Corps’ position, the Commandant General called for a national shift in mindset, urging Nigerians to see the protection of critical infrastructure not as a duty for security agencies alone, but as a civic responsibility tied directly to national survival, economic stability, and collective future.
Signed:
BABAWALE AFOLABI ANIPR
ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF CORPS
NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS
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