The Oyo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Commandant Augustine Padonu, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Oyo State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The Commandant was received by the Commissioner alongside directors of the Ministry of Works and other senior officials. The visit focused on strengthening collaboration to address the recurring damage to fibre-optic cables and other telecommunications infrastructure during road construction and excavation works.
Speaking during the engagement, Commandant Padonu explained that the visit was in line with directives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing destruction of fibre-optic cables by some construction firms. He noted that as the lead agency responsible for protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, the NSCDC is concerned about the rising cases of vandalism and accidental damage to telecom facilities across the state.
He recalled that the Command had earlier issued a public warning to contractors, urging them to carry out proper verification of underground utilities before excavation. He stressed that any contractor found culpable of deliberate or negligent damage to telecommunications infrastructure would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Commandant Padonu also requested the Ministry’s support by providing a comprehensive list of contractors handling state projects to enhance monitoring, coordination, and preventive enforcement measures.
In his response, Hon. Mogbonjubola commended the Commandant for the proactive initiative, describing the visit as timely and necessary for strengthening inter-agency cooperation. He proposed a joint meeting involving the Ministry, NSCDC, and contractors to allow for detailed discussions and technical briefings aimed at preventing further damage to fibre-optic cables.
The Commissioner further requested documented reports and official correspondence from ONSA regarding telecom infrastructure damage to guide policy and operational decisions within the Ministry. He assured that the Ministry would intensify supervision and precautionary measures during road construction and rehabilitation projects, and pledged to brief the Executive Governor of Oyo State on the outcome of the engagement.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to sustained collaboration between the NSCDC Oyo State Command and the Ministry of Works to safeguard critical communication infrastructure across the state.