From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
Ashcraft Centre for Social Science Research, has called for a collective efforts, at protecting the nation’s assets from being vandalized by unpatriotic Nigerians.
The Chief of Strategic Planning and Innovation of the group, Dr Chiakor Alfred, made the call on Monday, during a briefing with Journalists in Port Harcourt, ahead of their forthcoming South – South Zonal Stakeholders Summit on “Domesticating Stakeholders Statutory Responsibilities, in Protecting Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure& Assets”.
Dr Alfred who regretted that for the past two decade, the nation’s security had suffered serious structural challenges, stated that “the structural challenges comprised systematic vandalizatuon, degradation and destruction of the nation’s critical infrastructure, monuments and business assets”.
He revealed that terrorism, insurgency, cyber crimes, banditry, Kidnapping, piracy, oil bunkering, drug trafficking and other forms of organized crimes, have created new security challenge in the environment.
Dr Alfred also affirmed that the Summit is a Private /Public Partnership, aimed at galvanizing responsibility and synergy for the prioritization of the Multi-Angency /Joint Risk Management Efforts, to ensure security and resilience of the nation’s critical assets, in line with the Risk Management Framework of the National Protection Policy & Strategy CNAINPPS 2022, and also Critical National Infrastructure Bill under consideration, the National Assembly NASS.
Explaining further, he disclosed that his organization had already built synergy with the groups in the region.
“we should not allow the destruction of our industries and facilities, because we do not get the type of leadership we expected.”
“Vandalization of our infrastructure and assets has forced many companies out of country, hence massive youth unemployment, and subsequent poverty and increased criminalities.”
“The churches have taken over all our factories, and yet they neither offer employments, nor pay taxes,” he argued.
He further affirmed that stakeholders to be drawn to the summit include National and State legislators, Armed forces, Security and Intelligence agencies, businessmen and investors, traditional rulers. Among others.
