The Provost of the Civil Defence College of Security Management, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Akintelure Niyi Olufisayo, has called on security managers nationwide to adopt decisive measures in tackling environmental risks as a pathway to strengthening national resilience and ensuring sustainable development.

He made the call during the 2026 World Civil Defence Day celebration organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), where he spotlighted the growing nexus between environmental challenges and internal security threats.

Akintelure emphasized that climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and environmental degradation have transcended ecological discourse and now pose direct risks to peace, stability and national development. According to him, climate-induced disasters, shrinking natural resources and environmental stressors are fueling communal conflicts, triggering displacement and intensifying socio-economic pressure across vulnerable communities.

“These challenges are no longer distant environmental conversations; they directly impact peace, stability and national development,” he stated, urging security institutions to mainstream environmental risk management into their operational architecture.

He outlined a forward-focused framework that includes climate-smart planning, ecosystem conservation, sustainable resource governance and robust disaster risk reduction strategies. The Provost also advocated investment in green infrastructure as a proactive shield against emerging vulnerabilities, noting that resilience must be engineered, not assumed.

Beyond policy, he called for cross-sector collaboration involving government agencies, civil society and local communities, stressing that environmental security demands a unified response model. He further encouraged the adoption of modern technologies and innovative policy tools to enhance preparedness and response capabilities within the Corps.

Akintelure reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to environmental sustainability, maintaining that proactive risk management will not only fortify national security but also accelerate sustainable growth trajectories.

The event also featured recognition of the tenure extension and reappointment of the Corps Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi. The College leadership described his stewardship as visionary and transformative, crediting him with strengthening institutional capacity, elevating training standards and deepening professionalism across the Corps.

World Civil Defence Day, observed globally to acknowledge the critical role of civil defence institutions in protecting lives and infrastructure, served as a strategic platform for the NSCDC to reaffirm its evolving mandate — one that now firmly integrates environmental stewardship into the broader national security framework.

Participants pledged sustained commitment to advancing environmental risk governance, reinforcing the Corps’ positioning as a frontline institution in safeguarding both critical assets and Nigeria’s sustainable future.