TheCable

Ahmed Audi, commandant-general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says informants within security agencies are strengthening the activities of criminals. 

Audi said this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ summit on protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in Abuja.

Citing Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno and other states of the north as examples, the commandant-general said the rise in crimes constitute a threat to critical national assets and infrastructure.

“You will agree with me that the nefarious activities of these criminal elements are being strengthened not only by informants within security formations but equally those within the society; hence the need to engage our traditional rulers, religious, community, political and youth leaders in the process of finding a solution to this menace,” Daily Trust quoted him as saying.

He said there is a need for security agencies to re-strategise to better protect national assets from criminal elements.

Speaking further, Audi expressed concern over a statement by Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, that the federal government spends N60 billion annually on the repair and maintenance of vandalised oil pipelines across the country.

He said it is the responsibility of stakeholders to identify key national assets and their level of vulnerability while addressing the potential threat to such infrastructure.

In his remarks, Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, who was represented by Shuaib Belgore, permanent secretary, ministry of interior, said threats to national assets and infrastructure continue to escalate owing to the insecurity in the country.

He said the federal government was committed to rooting out every threat to the corporate existence of the nation, while providing protection to critical national assets and infrastructure.

“The federal government, various states and local governments are currently massively investing in the development and construction of various infrastructure that would support employment generation, poverty reduction and the comfort and wellbeing of the Nigerian people,” he said.