By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abubakar Audi, has urged stakeholders in the country to ensure practical ways of protects critical infrastructure of government.
Audi, made the call yesterday in Abuja, during a security summit.
At the summit themed; “synergy: Panacea To Effective Critical Assets and Infrastructure Protection”, Audi said “the theme was carefully chosen cognizant of the dangers posed to our Critical Assets in view of the prevailing security situation and the need to restrategize on how best to find lasting solution to this menace.
“This summit couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time considering the sudden upsurge in crime and threats to National Security occasioned by the criminal activities of terrorists/insurgents, vandals and oil thieves, bandits, kidnappers, ethnic militias, border clashes/boundary disputes, communal clashes, farmers/herders clashes, ethnic agitators, and sometimes violent protests such as the End-SARS protest which constitute potential threat to the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.
“A region or an entire Nation could be threatened by constant attacks as is being experienced in parts of the Country where the nefarious activities of these criminal elements have led to wanton destruction of critical assets and infrastructure in the country and its attendant loss of revenue that should have accrued to Government.
“We should also not lose sight of the devastating impact of natural disasters such as floods, fire incidents, industrial accidents etc, on these Critical Assets.
“It therefore behoves on us as Stakeholders to identify key Critical Infrastructure/Assets and their level of vulnerability. We should also address the potential threat to such Critical Asset and likely consequences, should that potential threat materializes. We also need to develop systems and strategies (protective measures) to avert such potential threats, taking into account existing proactive measures and identifying security gaps which will need to be addressed through Specific Protective Measures.”
He said it is no longer news that the frequency of crime commission and level of insecurity has exposed infrastructure/assets to dangers of attacks by criminal elements and saboteurs who are bent on frustrating Government’s efforts to foster good governance on the Nation.
He said, Power and Telecommunication Installations have been under constant threat and attacks in the Northeast by terrorists groups, while farmlands have been devastated by constant farmers/herders clashes, flood waters and oil spillage in different parts of the Country.
“Also, activities of vandals and illegal bunkerers have wreaked havoc on Power and Telecommunication Installations/Facilities, Oil Pipelines, Railway Tracks, Bridge Railings, Critical Aviation Infrastructure, Gas Installations among others. Most recently, INEC Offices, Security Formations, Correctional Centres, etc, have either been attacked or under serious threat of attacks by hoodlums and criminal elements.
“Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Guests, you will agree with me that these assets are too invaluable to be treated with levity or less seriousness as the consequences of such act are dire, while its cumulative negative effect on peace and socio-economic development of the Nation can better be imagined. Thus, it has become expedient on the part of Security Agencies and other Critical Stakeholders to collaborate and emplace measures and strategies towards effective protection, safeguard and sustainability of these Assets and Infrastructure.”