By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has pledged to collaborate with the Lagos State Ministry of Housing to strengthen security in government estates and tackle the risks posed by abandoned buildings across the state.
The Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, gave the assurance when the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Gbolahan Toriola, visited him at the Command’s headquarters in Alausa on Wednesday.
Keshinro said the Command was willing and ready to partner with the ministry to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in housing estates across the state.
He said the collaboration would also focus on identifying abandoned houses and buildings that could serve as criminal hideouts or pose risks to residents and communities.
“We will partner with the Lagos State Ministry of Housing to protect estates and residents,” Keshinro said.
According to him, the Command would work with the ministry to identify abandoned properties across the state and provide relevant statistics to support government planning and security interventions.
He said the initiative would help government address potential criminal hideouts while also supporting efforts to prevent building collapse and other disasters associated with abandoned or neglected structures.
The Commandant disclosed that he had directed all Divisional Officers of the NSCDC in Lagos to identify abandoned houses within their respective Areas of Responsibility.
He said the exercise would enable the Command to compile useful information that could assist the state government in tackling security and safety challenges associated with such properties.
Earlier, Toriola sought stronger collaboration between the ministry and the NSCDC to enhance the protection of residents in government housing estates across the various divisions of Lagos State.
He said the partnership was in line with the housing policy of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, which focuses on increasing the state’s housing stock, improving affordability and reducing the burden of rental payments on residents.
The Permanent Secretary also called for joint efforts to identify abandoned houses scattered across the state, noting that such structures could contribute to insecurity, disasters and other social problems if left unattended.
Keshinro reaffirmed the commitment of the NSCDC Lagos Command to supporting the state government’s efforts to protect residents and property, stressing that effective security required sustained collaboration among relevant government institutions.
The meeting, he said, would strengthen coordination between the NSCDC and the Ministry of Housing in addressing security and safety concerns within Lagos State housing estates.
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