Company Seeks Critical National Infrastructure Protection

The Security Skills Development Company (SSDC) has released a new policy report calling for a coordinated national approach to protecting Nigeria’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), following its inaugural Thought Leadership Roundtable held in Lagos.

The report, titled “A New Strategy for Protecting Nigeria’s Critical National Infrastructure,” draws on insights from seasoned experts in national security, engineering, law, and private-sector security. It highlights the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s infrastructure systems against vandalism, cyberattacks, sabotage, weak enforcement, and a culture of poor maintenance.

At the roundtable, speakers noted that Nigeria continues to suffer significant losses due to persistent attacks on telecom fibre lines, oil and gas pipelines, and power transmission assets. According to industry data referenced in the report, more than 1,000 fibre cuts occur nationwide every month. Multiple national grid collapses have been recorded in recent years, often linked to vandalism and insufficient system resilience.

Key contributors at the session included security analyst Dennis Amachree, security expert Mike Igbodipe, and engineering professional Engr. Jide Kumapayi, legal expert Babatunde Osadare, and security trainer Collins Onyewuchi. They collectively stressed the need for a unified national framework for CNI protection, stronger stakeholder accountability, and deeper collaboration between government agencies and private operators.

The report also identifies emerging cyber risks as a growing threat. It notes that financial systems, digital government services, and telecom networks are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated attacks, underscoring the need for stronger cybersecurity capacity and enforcement.

Among its recommendations, SSDC calls for the formal adoption of a National Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework, improved legal enforcement against vandalism, wider deployment of technology-driven surveillance tools, and increased investment in predictive maintenance systems. It also highlights the need for increased public awareness, enhanced community engagement, and improved intelligence sharing among security agencies.

According to SSDC, the roundtable is part of a bi-monthly series aimed at influencing policy reforms and strengthening Nigeria’s security ecosystem. The company noted that subsequent editions would explore issues such as the role of the private sector in national security and improving human capital capacity within the industry.