October 30, (THEWILL) — The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has identified scrap dealers as major culprits in the vandalism of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) across the state.
NSCDC Lagos Commandant, Keshinro Adedotun, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting on the protection of national assets held in Ikorodu. He said investigations revealed that many vandals operate under the guise of scrap collection to damage and steal public facilities.
Adedotun noted that the rising destruction of key infrastructure had become a serious security concern, necessitating tighter regulation of scrap trading activities.
He said findings showed that most acts of vandalism occur at night, prompting plans to restrict scrap trading hours in Ikorodu to between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
“The whole issue of vandalism and stealing of critical national assets comes down to scrap traders. Our investigations have revealed that theft and vandalism occur mostly at night,” he said.
He added that Ikorodu is one of the high-risk areas for infrastructure damage in Lagos, which is why the NSCDC has intensified community engagement across the senatorial district.
“This engagement covers the entire senatorial district, and since our first outreach, we have been receiving useful reports that have helped us reduce vandalism,” he said.
The Commandant called for stronger collaboration between security agencies, traditional institutions, and residents in safeguarding national infrastructure, stressing that public assets must be protected for the collective good.
“Protection of critical infrastructure is a shared responsibility between security agencies, community leaders, and the public. We must work together to ensure stability in our communities,” he added.
Chairman of the Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Adewale Adedotun, acknowledged the security concerns and vowed that the association would expel and expose criminal elements disguising as legitimate recyclers.
He condemned vandals who destroy public assets for profit, describing such acts as sabotage against the nation.
“The vandals won’t go unpunished. These assets are for our common good and are capital-intensive to install. We are traders of recyclables, not destroyers of infrastructure,” he said.
Adewale Adedotun also noted that the rising value of scrap metals, driven by the absence of a functional steel industry in Nigeria, has encouraged both genuine recycling and criminal activity around metal collection.
He said the association would step up advocacy and sensitisation campaigns to discourage illegal practices.
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