The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, Commandant Oluyemi Joshua Ibiloye, JP, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, host communities, and the private sector to enhance the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure across Ondo State and the country.
Commandant Ibiloye made the call while delivering a presentation at the Rotary District Conference 2026 held on Friday, 8 May 2026, in Akure.
The conference, themed “Unite for Good: Collaborating for Impact,” brought together Rotary members, traditional rulers, diplomats, community leaders, and business stakeholders to deliberate on peacebuilding, sustainable service projects, membership development, and strategies for building a future ready district.
Speaking on the topic, “A Secured Handshake: Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships in Protecting Critical Infrastructure,” the NSCDC Commandant described the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure as a collective responsibility that requires deliberate and sustainable partnerships between government institutions and private organisations.
He explained that the statutory mandate of the NSCDC places the Corps at the forefront of safeguarding lives and property, protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, managing disaster response, and supporting national security operations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Commandant Ibiloye also highlighted the economic consequences of vandalism and attacks on public infrastructure, stressing that such acts negatively affect businesses and national development.
According to him, “When public infrastructure is damaged, business continuity suffers and the cost of doing business rises. Protection is cheaper than repair; prevention is cheaper than replacement; resilience is cheaper than collapse.”
As part of measures aimed at strengthening infrastructure protection at the state level, the Commandant proposed the establishment of a State Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Partnership Desk within the Command to serve as a permanent platform for engagement with private sector stakeholders.
He further advocated the development of a comprehensive register of critical assets to identify priority infrastructure, assess potential threats, determine ownership structures, and establish effective emergency response procedures.
The NSCDC boss also urged Rotary clubs, telecommunications companies, financial institutions, and other organised private sector groups to demonstrate stronger commitment to infrastructure protection through formal memoranda of understanding and strategic partnerships.
In addition, he recommended regular joint exercises involving site inspections, simulation drills, and crisis response exercises to improve coordination and preparedness among stakeholders.
He noted that such collaborative efforts would help achieve measurable outcomes, including reduced cases of vandalism, faster emergency response, improved intelligence sharing, enhanced personnel training, increased operational efficiency, and greater public confidence in security institutions.
Commandant Ibiloye reaffirmed the commitment of the Ondo State Command of the NSCDC to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in the interest of public safety and sustainable national development.