The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for a shift from reactive security measures to a standardised, intelligence-led and technology-driven approach to the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI). The call was made by the FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, while declaring closed a two-day intensive training on the doctrinal ownership of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, organised for Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and other personnel at the Command Headquarters, Abuja.
National Responsibility, Not Just an Operational Assignment
Odumosu, who spoke through the Command’s Deputy Commandant-General (2IC), DCC Tijani Usman, said the protection of critical national infrastructure should be regarded as a national responsibility rather than merely an operational assignment. He said infrastructure such as power grids, pipelines, railways, telecommunications facilities, water treatment plants, airports and government institutions remained the backbone of the nation’s economy, governance and security.
According to him, vandalism, sabotage and other forms of attacks on such infrastructure have far-reaching consequences, including disruption of healthcare and educational services, loss of business productivity and erosion of public confidence. He said, “Doctrinal ownership requires the protection of CNAI to move from fragmented and reactive practices to a deliberate, standardised and professionally owned system in which every officer and relevant stakeholder understands, believes in and implements the established security doctrine.”
Four Key Pillars for Effective Protection
The Commandant identified intelligence-led prevention, physical security and technology integration, stakeholder collaboration, as well as prosecution and deterrence as the four key pillars for effective protection of critical national assets and infrastructure. On intelligence gathering, Odumosu stressed the need for early warning systems, community engagement, private security intelligence and technical surveillance to identify threats before they materialise.
He also called for greater deployment of modern technology in security operations, noting that conventional measures such as gates, fences and patrols must be complemented with CCTV cameras, sensors, drones and digital incident-reporting platforms. According to him, the changing nature of security threats requires security personnel to embrace technology and intelligence as critical tools for protecting national infrastructure.
Stakeholder Collaboration and Prosecution
The Commandant further urged asset owners, private security companies, host communities and sister security agencies to strengthen collaboration, information sharing and coordinated responses. He noted that the NSCDC could not protect the country’s critical infrastructure in isolation, stressing that effective security required the collective efforts of all relevant stakeholders.
Odumosu also emphasised the need for effective prosecution of offenders, warning that arrests without successful prosecution could weaken efforts to combat vandalism and other infrastructure-related crimes. He called for sustained cooperation among security agencies, relevant authorities and the judiciary to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and appropriate penalties imposed in accordance with the law.
Telecommunications Infrastructure as Central Nervous System
Speaking on the telecommunications sector, the Commandant described telecommunications infrastructure as the “central nervous system” of modern society, noting that it supports communication, commerce, innovation and the operations of other critical sectors. He expressed concern over the increasing damage to installed fibre-optic infrastructure, warning that such acts could undermine the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
Odumosu reaffirmed the commitment of the NSCDC, as the lead agency for the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, to developing practical, risk-based and intelligence-led security frameworks to prevent avoidable damage to telecommunications infrastructure and improve its resilience.
Training Focus and Personnel Charge
He said the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of personnel in areas including the designation of information infrastructure as CNAI, intelligence gathering, surveillance-driven patrols, prevention of vandalism, suspects’ handling, legal procedures and preservation of exhibits. The Commandant charged the participants to make effective use of the training by engaging with facilitators, asking questions and sharing operational experiences that could improve the protection of critical infrastructure across the FCT.
He reminded the personnel that their responsibility extended beyond guarding physical structures, describing them as “guardians of national continuity.” Odumosu urged them to return to their respective formations and operational areas with renewed commitment to building a security culture in which the protection of national infrastructure is regarded as a collective responsibility. The training, in a statement signed by the FCT Command’s Civil Defence Public Relations Officer, DSC Monica Ojobi, ended with the presentation of certificates and gifts to participants.
