By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has expressed concern over what it described as a growing wave of public indifference toward the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), warning that such apathy is enabling acts of sabotage, vandalism, and avoidable national losses.
According to an official signed statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Babawale Afolabi, the Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, raised the concern during a session at the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute in Abuja.
Audi stressed that no security framework can succeed without the active involvement of the people it is meant to protect, noting that critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines, power installations, and communication facilities are embedded within communities, making residents the first line of defence.
He cautioned that when individuals and communities ignore suspicious activities, minor security breaches often escalate into major incidents with far-reaching implications for the nation’s economy and overall stability.
The NSCDC boss reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to its statutory responsibility of safeguarding critical national infrastructure but emphasised that effective and sustainable protection requires collective responsibility. He urged citizens to move beyond passive observation and become active stakeholders in protecting national assets.
Audi also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Corps to strengthen collaboration and coordination with other security agencies, aimed at building a more unified and intelligence-driven response to threats against national infrastructure.
He further disclosed that the government is intensifying measures to ensure stricter penalties for offenders and a more efficient judicial process, noting that accountability remains a critical deterrent against acts of sabotage.
Reiterating his call, the Commandant General urged Nigerians to adopt a new mindset, stressing that the protection of critical infrastructure is not solely the responsibility of security agencies but a shared civic duty essential to national survival, economic resilience, and the country’s collective future.
