Osun NSCDC solicits cooperation towards national assets protection

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)has solicited the cooperation of citizens towards the protection of critical national assets.

This is in a bid ensure that all Nigerians are properly educated on the need to protect critical national assets and infrastructure in their domains.

This call was made by the Zonal Commander in charge of Zone J, Assistant Commandant General, Quadri Saladin at a one day summit with the theme: “Protection of critical national assets and infrastructure as a panacea for underdevelopment”.

Represented by Commandant Ajibola Liadi, Saladin the summit was apt, as the government at all levels and private sectors across the country are investing massively in development and construction of infrastructure.

The stakeholders summit was held on Tuesday, April 16 in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

While delivering his speech, Saladin maintained that stakeholders must collaborate with NSCDC for sustainability of these assets.

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In his speech, the Commandant of NSCDC, Osun state command, Michael Adaralewa said the event could not have come at a better time due to the threats to our national assets and infrastructure by economic saboteurs.

“The stakeholders summit was in line with the vision of NSCDC Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR, saying his administration is totally committed to rooting out every threat to the corporate existence of the country, National Daily Newspaper gathered.

Delivering the lecture titled: “Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure as a Panacea for underdevelopment’’, the Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Prof Olayinka Ramota Karim represented by Prof. Goke Lalude made it known that critical national assets are services and systems necessary for a country to function upon which daily life depends.

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She explained that everyone has a role to play in securing the assets, hence all hands must be on deck in protecting both public and private infrastructure as its effectiveness would have a meaningful impact on political, economic and social life of a nation.

In his presentation, Professor Joseph Bamidele Oyedele of Estate Management Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State revealed that the establishment of NSCDC by the Federal Government is one of the measures to protect critical infrastructure and this is supported by NSCDC Act 2003 as amended in 2007.

‘’Any disruption to these assets can have serious consequences for citizens.

Hence, protecting these facilities is important economically as interruptions could result in substantial financial losses and interference with the supply chain and business operations.”

Keynote speeches were also delivered by Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede. Osun State, Prof. Solomon Ajayi Adebola represented by Assistant Commandant General (rtd) Kingsley Oguntuase, and the General Manager of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Osogbo, Osun State, Engr. Adesina.

The summit was well attended by critical stakeholders, including security agencies, senior government officials. business executives, infrastructure owners and managers, among others.

This is in line with government thinking that all hands must be on deck, and that every Nigerian must be properly educated about security issues for them to play their individual role in protection of critical national assets and infrastructure.