The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, has urged telecommunications operators and tower owners to take the protection of their installations more seriously.
He said recurring vandalism of telecom infrastructure poses grave threats to national security and economic stability.
Odumosu gave the charge on Friday during a meeting with telecom stakeholders at the FCT Command Headquarters, Abuja, convened at the instance of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to address the persistent cases of vandalism of base transceiver stations (BTS), masts, and towers across the country.
While expressing concern over what he described as the “nonchalant attitude” of some mast owners toward the security of their multi-million-naira investments, the Commandant said many of the vandalised sites had been left unguarded, which makes them easy targets for criminals.
“The Corps is concerned because vandalism of these critical national assets and infrastructure has serious consequences on the entire country. Protection of these facilities must be taken seriously. Any act of sabotage must be condemned and prevented from festering,” Odumosu warned.
According to him, recent patrols by the Corps’ Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) Department revealed that several telecom sites within the FCT were left without any form of security presence or surveillance systems.
He described such negligence as unacceptable, considering the strategic importance of telecommunications to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development and national security.
Odumosu advised telecom operators to immediately engage licensed private guard companies to provide physical security at their sites, while also installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor activities and deter intruders.
He emphasised that going forward, all reports of vandalism or theft at BTS sites must be accompanied by relevant CCTV footage to aid investigation and prosecution.
He said, “As the lead agency in the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), we are committed to providing 24-hour surveillance and patrol around your facilities. “
“But you must also cooperate with us. Make sure you avail us with relevant information about your sites and locations to enable us protect them. We cannot protect the facilities we don’t know exist.”
The Commandant further urged operators to share credible intelligence that could help the Corps apprehend vandals, noting that collaboration between the NSCDC and telecom companies was essential to safeguarding vital communication infrastructure in the nation’s capital.
He reiterated that the Corps, under his leadership, will not relent in its mandate to protect all critical national assets within the FCT, and warned that any laxity on the part of operators would not only endanger their investments but also disrupt essential communication services relied upon by millions of Nigerians.
In their response, representatives of the telecom companies commended the NSCDC for convening the strategic engagement and pledged to work more closely with the Corps to enhance security around telecom installations in the FCT.
The stakeholders also promised to review their current security arrangements and comply with the directives on physical guarding, CCTV installation, and intelligence sharing to ensure the protection of their facilities from further attacks.
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