NSCDC: Electricity, transportation, oil pipelines, other infrastructure increasingly at risk of violent attacks

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) says the nation’s critical infrastructure services are increasingly at risk of violent attacks.

Mr Benito Eze, an Assistant Commandant-General in charge of Critical National Asset and Infrastructure, said this at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday.

Eze said the threats to the country’s access to electricity, transportation, water, oil pipelines, telecommunications and many other sectors had devastating economic consequences.

“These threats can have devastating consequences and could threaten the national economy and entire communities.

“Oil pipelines used to be the most threatened sector but in recent times, we are having more threats in the transportation sector.

“There is no country that can be stable if its infrastructure elements are not of use, so they need to be protected for the smooth running of the government.

“Their collapse results in the collapse of the government. That is why we need to come together to ensure they are protected,” Eze said.

He said that NSCDC, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, would have a three-day summit. According to him, the theme of the summit would be: “Synergy: Panacea for effective Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection”.

He said the summit, initially scheduled to hold from Sept. 7 to Sept. 9 had been postponed to between Sept. 27 and Sept. 29.

Eze said the event was part of the strategies by the corps and Federal Government to further explore ways to safeguard the nation’s critical assets.

“These include public buildings, schools, elections, transportation, production and manufacturing infrastructure, amongst others.

“The event will provide an opportunity for participants to review the current security situation in the country.

“They will also assess the level of risks to critical assets and infrastructure and evolve ways to actively promote synergy among all the stakeholders,” Eze said.

He said that two sectors – election management system and school educational facilities – have been added to the initial 16 critical infrastructure sectors.

The NSCDC chief listed chemical, commercial facilities, communication, critical manufacturing, and dams as part of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors.

Others are defence industrial base, emergency service, energy, financial services, food and agriculture and government facilities.

The rest are healthcare and public health, information technology, nuclear reactors, material and waste, transportation system, water and waste water systems. (NAN)