NSCDC LAGOS WARNS AGAINST FIBRE OPTIC CABLES DESTRUCTION DURING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN SURULERE, MUSHIN, IGANMU, ITIRE - IKATE, YABA DIVISIONS.

As directed by the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD., mni, OFR, the Lagos State Command of the service has taken its ongoing community engagement with stakeholders on the need to effectively and proactively protect the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure ( CNAI ) in the length and breath of our dear country, to Surulere, Mushin, Iganmu, Itire - Ikate and Yaba Divisional Offices under the Area C Command, yesterday, Tuesday, 10th March, 2026.

The protection of CNAI, which encompass the oil and gas, transportation, power and energy, telecommunications, education, health sectors et ce tera remain one of the core statutory mandates of the NSCDC amongst many others.

It was in the light of the above that the State Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command Mr Adedotun Keshinro commended the Area C command and its Divisions for a successful outing with their stakeholders in a bid to adequately sensitize traditional leaders, operators, owners, religious leaders, market leaders, youths, associations, union leaders, members of the public and other clusters of the communities.

The Lagos State Commandant, who was ably represented by the Head of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department, Deputy Commandant of Corps Kolawole Agbetiloye, said that community engagements with stakeholders such as this aim to bring the campaigns against vandalism, illegal dredging, illegal mining activities, illegal scrap dealings amongst others close to the people at the grassroots.

The Lagos State Commandant seized the meeting to warn against the destruction of fibre optic cables often laid underneath the ground by telecommunication engineers to boost their network services and to serve citizens' needs. He said that it was important for construction engineers to collaborate with the Corps and the Nigerian Communications Commission while on site in a bid to ensure the protection of fibre optic cables and other critical assets and infrastructure from being destroyed.

The Lagos State Commandant charged all stakeholders in attendance to report suspected cases of vandalism being carried out by miscreants, hoodlums and all forms of unscrupulous elements in their communities to the offices of the NSCDC closer to them in the state or through the emergency numbers of the state; 112, 767 and the public relations unit of the command; +2348163597310.

The Executive Chairman, Surulere Local Government Area ( LGA ), Honourable Sulaiman Bamidele Yusuf commended the efforts of the NSCDC in ensuring safety and security in the LGA. He commended the initiative led by the NSCDC in Lagos to create such platforms where security issues can be discussed. He also affirmed his commitment towards ensuring the protection of assets and infrastructure particularly ending the removal of manholes on the roads by miscreants at the meeting. He charged the members of the Corps in the five Divisions under Area C Command, to continue this laudable advocacy as they can be rest assured of his support in providing adequate working tools and befitting offices for their operational and administrative effectiveness.

The Baale of Abule - Ijesha assured the NSCDC of the traditional institutions' resolve to continue to support the NSCDC in the fulfillment of its mandates in their kingdom. However, he charged the Divisions under the Area C Command to be more visible to the palace and continue to sustain this initiative in a bid to drive more operational response and feedback mechanisms amidst others . He also affirmed his continuous support to the the Divisional officers moving forward.

All stakeholders resolve at the event to take responsibility towards the collective protection of CNAI in their communities. They resolved to protect manholes, fiber optic cables, rail sleepers, power installations, telecommunications and all others from untoward attack by vandals, shenanigans, miscreants and all unscrupulous elements in their communities moving forward.

The representative of National Orientation Agency ( NOA ), Surulere office, Mr Uzi Ihonde at the event also affirmed the commitment of his organization towards supporting the Corps in achieving its mandate of adequate protection of CNAI in the state. He assured the Corps that through joint sensitizations like this vandalism will reduce to the barest minimum in the state .

The Scrap Dealer Association members were also represented and they seized the opportunity to explain their immense contributions to the socio - economic development of their communities by providing jobs for their members to reduce the crime rate in the state. However, they resolved from the engagement to assist the NSCDC and all other agencies of government to report all forms of non - compliance by erring members to protect the integrity of their business.

The Area Commander, Area C Command, Assistant Commandant of Corps Akib Opeyemi, PhD., the Divisional Officers of Area C Command were also present to engage stakeholders during the interactive sessions well moderated at the event.

The event drew goodwill messages from the representatives of the Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Surulere LGA Staff, Scrap Dealers Association, Con Oil of Falolu Station, Surulere NULGE, Christian Association of Nigeria and the media et ce tera.

Signed .

SC Oluwaseun Abolurin, fcss, mis, pjsc, anipr,

Civil Defence PRO,

Lagos State Command,

Wednesday, 11/03/'26.