Halogen, NSCDC Push for Joint Action on Mining Security in Lagos
A call has gone out for tighter cooperation between the public and private sectors to tackle the security problems confronting Nigeria's mining industry.
The appeal came from Halogen Security and the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during the 8th Lagos PR Clinic, which Halogen Security staged alongside the NSCDC.
Government officials, security agencies, private companies, academics and mining sector players attended the forum, held under the theme "Collaborative Security as a Paradigm for Mining Security," to look at how security in the sector can be strengthened.
Illegal mining, criminal activity and vandalism were listed by those present as issues that call for greater synergy involving public institutions, private security operators, businesses and host communities.
Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, fnarc, the NSCDC Lagos State Commandant, told the gathering that protecting mining security is not limited to guarding mining sites alone; it also covers host communities, economic assets, environmental concerns and government earnings.
He pressed for better coordination linking security agencies, government bodies, private sector operators and communities so that illegal mining and other security problems along mining corridors can be tackled.
Bosun Sosanya, Executive Director, Operations & Services at Halogen, also spoke, saying that the rising complexity of security threats has made it necessary for public security agencies and private providers to work more closely together.
According to him, "At Halogen, we do not see our role as separate from that of the state. We see private security providers as force multipliers that can work alongside public security institutions to strengthen capacity and drive greater impact through deeper collaboration, including joint training, intelligence sharing and capacity building, to deliver stronger security outcomes."
ACC Onoja John Attah, Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, gave the lead presentation, speaking on the Corps' work against illegal mining and its push to strengthen enforcement nationwide.
Attah pointed to coordinated interventions, the sharing of intelligence and operations driven by intelligence as key ways of achieving better security results in mining.
Among the other participants were Femi Kayode, Chairman of ASIS; Charles Keku, Managing Director of Pahek Security Services; Franklin Okpara, Chief Security Officer at Unilever; Engr. Silas S. G., Officer in Charge, Federal Mines and Steel Development, Lagos; and Professor Adedeji Oyenuga, Professor of Criminology, Department of Sociology, Lagos State University.
Practical ways of handling intelligence sharing, community engagement, safety and accountability, technology adoption and capacity building dominated the panel discussion, where speakers emphasised that public-private partnerships must be made stronger.
The stakeholders also looked at how coordinated security interventions can help safeguard mining operations, host communities and Nigeria's mineral resources.
The meeting stressed that institutions need greater capacity and better mechanisms for sharing information so that security agencies, businesses and communities can respond more effectively to threats in mining corridors.
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