The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commended the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for its role in protecting railway infrastructure, as stakeholders in Enugu pledged closer cooperation to safeguard critical national assets.

The commendation was given by the Enugu Railway District Manager, Mr. Agwonye Francis Ejike, at a stakeholders' meeting on the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure held at the NSCDC State Command headquarters in Enugu on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Ejike, who was represented by the District Public Relations Officer, Dr. Onyedikachi Stanley Onovo, said collaboration with the NSCDC and other security agencies was essential to protecting railway facilities from vandalism, theft and other criminal activities.

He said the NSCDC's involvement in railway security had contributed to protecting the Corporation's assets and improving workers' sense of safety.

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"Without the help of the NSCDC and, indeed, all other security agencies in Nigeria, railway operations would have been nearly impossible," he said.

Ejike also disclosed that NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, had directed that both serviceable and unserviceable railway materials be designated as critical national assets, rather than treating unserviceable materials simply as scrap.

He said the measure was intended to reinforce the importance of protecting railway property against theft and vandalism.

In his remarks, the Enugu State NSCDC Commandant, Dr. Elijah Etim Willie, said effective protection of critical infrastructure required greater awareness of the Corps' responsibilities and stronger cooperation from the organisations whose assets it protects.

He urged stakeholders to provide timely information on security threats, warning that delays in reporting suspicious activities could hinder an effective response.

Willie assured the organisations present of the Corps' readiness to support their security needs, while emphasising that information sharing and proactive communication were essential to effective intervention.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the NRC, Enugu State Water Corporation, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, telecommunications companies and the Nigerian Communications Commission, among other stakeholders.

Participants raised concerns about encroachment on rights of way and conflicts involving infrastructure belonging to different organisations. They agreed on the need for better coordination to resolve such disputes and prevent damage to critical facilities.

The organisations pledged to strengthen cooperation with the NSCDC, including improving intelligence sharing and reporting security concerns.

Local Government Area commanders of the NSCDC also attended the meeting to gain direct knowledge of infrastructure protection challenges in their respective areas.

The stakeholders agreed to hold the meetings more regularly, with the aim of improving coordination and developing more effective responses to threats against critical national assets.

The meeting underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among infrastructure operators and security agencies in protecting public assets and ensuring the continuity of essential services.