The National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, has expressed concern over the spate of attacks on critical national assets across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Although he said the government had deployed both kinetic and non-kinetic mechanisms to safeguard these assets, the NSA stressed that there was a need to develop and continuously review measures to address dynamic threats to the nation’s infrastructure.
Monguno, who was represented by the Principal General Staff Officer, Office of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Sadiq Ndalolo, spoke at the validation exercise for the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure National Protection Policy and Strategy 2023 in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said, “In the North-West, bandits and terrorist groups target transportation infrastructure and educational institutions. The presence of these groups, especially near Kainji and Shiroro dams, further constitutes major security threats to the zone.
“In the South-East, attacks on infrastructure such as police stations, and security checkpoints amongst others, are suspected to be orchestrated by members of the Eastern Security Network.
“In the South-West, noticeable threats to critical national assets and infrastructure have resulted from armed robbery, targeted at banks and financial institutions, as well as wanton destruction of public infrastructure in the wake of public disorders.
“Meanwhile, the attacks on assets and infrastructure in the South-South are primarily driven by militant activities especially, pipeline vandalism and oil theft. Furthermore, piracy presents yet another challenge in the Nigerian maritime domain, which straddles the zone. The threat almost crippled the maritime transportation supply line as shipping premium insurance for shipping increased in response to piracy concerns. Nonetheless, it is quite reassuring that the Nigerian Navy and other maritime stakeholders have significantly curbed this threat.”
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, said despite having an infrastructural deficit of over $3trn, the country had lost an estimated $200bn to threats on critical assets since 1999.
He said, “The economic losses occasioned by the threats to CNAI are unquantifiable in monetary terms. Some estimates have put it to be over $200bn since 1999, no thanks to terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy, vandalism, EndSARS protest, the COVID-19 pandemic, and so on. This has happened in a country with an infrastructural deficit said to be over $3tn. While we strive to bridge this gap, threats to CNAI take us one step forward and two steps backward.”
He added that the document was coming at the right time as emerging security threats put critical national assets and infrastructure in danger.
“This document is an additional boost that could not have come at a better time considering emerging security threats that put our CNAI in harm’s way that may prevent them from providing or enabling National Critical Functions,” Audi said.