By Abiodun Abegunde
The Federal Government says it will address the challenges being faced in the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).
AVM Enabong Effiom, Director of CzNAI protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), said this on Tuesday in Lagos.
Effiom spoke during a strategic security meeting with relevant stakeholders on the protection of CNAI, held in collaboration with the Office of the ONSA.
He noted that strengthening the protection of CNAI remained a priority, adding that decisive measures would be implemented to curb threats and improve national security.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by the Lagos State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
NAN also reports that the Lagos NSCDC command had earlier began community engagements across its 50 divisional formations to re-emphasise the importance of protecting CNAI.
The director said that the stakeholder engagement had provided the office with insights into the challenges in the field, which would be addressed to reduce incidents of vandalism and theft.
Effiom, who called for better collaboration and response among stakeholders, said that orientation, enlightenment, and education on CNAI were key.
“When we get back, we will bring up the concerns of the stakeholders and firstly interface with National Orientation Agency for the public enlightenment to breach the ignorance gap among the general public.
“A significant or core effort in addressing the issue of vandalism and protection of CNAI will have to do with the scrap metal industry.
”We believe that if there are no avenues for these scavengers to sell these vandalised items, they will not have any reason to vandalism.
“So, we hope that the state would be able to regulate the activities of this scrap industry,” he said.
Earlier, the Lagos state NSCDC commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, had said that the stakeholders’ meeting with the technical committee from ONSA was apt.
Keshinro, who was represented by Mr Kokawole Adetiloye, Head of the Department of CNAI, charged all scrap dealers’ associations to regulate their internal systems and membership.
He said that quacks and illegal dealers should be checked to reduce incidents of vandalism and discourage people from buying illegally acquired metals.
He added that a key takeaway from the meeting was that prohibitive and preventive acts were among the laws that could be used to prosecute vandals in court.
“Rather than taking these vandals to a magistrate court, they can be taken to the Federal High Court, as the government has enacted sufficient laws to address these offences,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
