In an exclusive year-end review, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), detailed a transformative year marked by strategic innovation and robust partnerships that significantly bolstered the protection of the nation’s vital assets.
Commandant Keshinro, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, attributed the command’s 2025 successes to a fundamental shift in operational doctrine. Moving beyond reactive patrols, the NSCDC embraced a proactive, intelligence-driven model centered on the “Three Cs”—Collaboration, Cooperation, and Coordination—as championed by the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
The Strategic Pillars of Success
1. Deepened Collaboration & The Grassroots Mandate: The most significant advancement was the full-scale implementation of the 2024 Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) National Protection Policy. This wasn’t merely a top-down directive. The command initiated a statewide grassroots engagement program, cascading from a coordination summit directed by the Office of the National Security Adviser down to all 50 divisional offices. This empowered local officers to forge alliances with community leaders, private security firms, and infrastructure companies, creating a dense network of local intelligence to preempt threats like vandalism of pipelines, power plants, and telecommunications networks.
2. Technological and Logistical Enhancement: A tangible boost came from the donation of a 150-watt engine capacity speedboat by the Ministry of Works. This asset directly addressed a critical gap in maritime security, enabling the NSCDC to combat illegal dredging and secure waterways—a vital economic and environmental frontier. The impact was echoed by Mr. Peter Mkenchor, Chairman of the Ijora GRA Estate, who noted that the consistent NSCDC presence had eliminated pirate attacks in his community for five years, though he appealed for a dedicated public jetty to optimize such assets.
3. Intelligence-Led Operations & Visible Deterrence: The command transitioned to acting on “credible and actionable intelligence.” A prime example was the November 7 operation in Badagry, where swift action based on specific tips led to the interception of over six thousand litres of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Publicly displaying such recoveries served a dual purpose: a stark warning to economic saboteurs and a demonstration of efficacy to build public trust.
The Broader Operational Ecosystem
Keshinro revealed that infrastructure surveillance was bolstered by a suite of complementary initiatives:
- Capacity Building: Continuous training ensured personnel could effectively operate new technologies and manage complex stakeholder relationships.
- Safe School Initiative: Protecting educational institutions as critical social infrastructure.
- Quarterly Public Relations Clinic: A structured effort to maintain public confidence and foster community reporting.
The Commandant’s final assessment was clear: the sustained, multi-faceted focus on protecting critical infrastructure in 2025 led to fewer disruptions, safeguarded economic assets, and contributed tangibly to national stability. The NSCDC’s Lagos Command evolved from a traditional guard force into a networked, tech-aware protector, setting a new benchmark for infrastructure security in Nigeria.
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
