BY JULIET EKWENUGO
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reiterated its commitment to fostering continental security collaboration in the fight against illegal mining, oil theft, and resource sabotage across Africa.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, made this known through his representative, Assistant Commandant General (ACG) Muktar Lawal, while delivering a keynote address at the 12th Annual African Security Symposium held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking on the topic, “Safeguarding Africa’s Natural Resources: The Strategic Role of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Combating Illegal Mining, Vandalism, and Resource Sabotage,” ACG Lawal emphasized the urgent need for joint security initiatives across the continent to combat the criminal exploitation of Africa’s natural endowments.
According to him, “It is common knowledge that Africa is richly blessed with vast natural resources—minerals, oil and gas, forests, and water bodies—which hold tremendous potential for sustainable development. However, these resources have increasingly become targets of illegal exploitation, vandalism, and transnational organized crime.”
He stressed that the consequences of these illicit activities not only deplete national wealth but also pose a grave threat to regional peace, exacerbate insecurity, and deny citizens the benefits of natural prosperity.
“The security and preservation of our natural resources is not merely a national duty,” Lawal said. “It is a continental responsibility that demands robust collaboration, strategic enforcement, and a unified vision.”
Highlighting the role of NSCDC in Nigeria, he explained that the Corps has been strategically positioned to protect critical national assets and infrastructure. He noted that through intelligence-led operations, inter-agency cooperation, community engagement, and the deployment of specialized units, the Corps has recorded significant successes in dismantling illegal refineries, curbing illegal mining, and apprehending economic saboteurs.
Lawal further advocated for enhanced cross-border intelligence sharing, harmonised legal frameworks to criminalise resource theft, joint capacity building for security forces, and the deployment of advanced technologies such as drone surveillance and geospatial monitoring.
“To combat this menace, we must recognise that Africa’s security challenges transcend borders. The same criminal networks often operate across multiple countries. No single nation can tackle this in isolation,” he said.
He called on regional organisations such as the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take the lead in fostering collaboration and standardised enforcement strategies across the continent.
In a media chat, Engr. Jator Abido, a consultant and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Yatov Consult International Limited, who coordinated the NSCDC’s participation at the symposium, commended the Corps’ efforts. He expressed optimism that NSCDC’s operational strategies could be replicated across the continent.
“I am convinced that NSCDC can replicate its operations in Africa, considering the tremendous success recorded in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, leading to significant increases in revenue generation,” Abido stated.
The symposium brought together security experts, policymakers, and representatives from various African countries to discuss collective responses to the continent’s evolving security challenges, with a strong emphasis on protecting natural resources from illicit exploitation
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