The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday raised concerns over the rate of vandalism, oil theft and other forms of attacks on critical infrastructure in some part of the country.
But just as he raised the concerns, he said the security agencies under his watch remain unbowed and committed to protecting the nation’s economy by safeguarding its means of economic activities.
Aregbesola disclosed this today at the commissioning of operational vehicles for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja.
He noted that acquisition of the new operational vehicles is in tandem with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s policy of tackling insecurity heads on and in his march towards social and economic development of the country.
“The incessant attacks on our Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in particular has become a grievous wound dangerously bleeding the nation’s economy and which must be effectively addressed, checkmated and curbed.
“We cannot continue to watch innocent Nigerians being constantly harassed, intimidated and cowed while precious lives are being terminated prematurely,” Aregbesola said
The Minister added that government has put so many measures in place and this has resulted to many successful operations that have routed criminal gangs.
“The Ministry of Interior plays a pivotal role in managing the nation’s internal security by superintending over four paramilitary agencies – the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Federal Fire Service (FFS),”
“These agencies are in the forefront of the government’s business of protecting lives and property and putting an end to insecurity in the country,” the statement read
“Today’s occasion, therefore, is in pursuant of the radical and proactive steps by Government towards addressing the challenge of insecurity in the country as we take steady and bold steps to degrade the activities of some criminally minded unpatriotic individuals and saboteurs whose main agenda is to dwarf the enormous achievements that our administration has recorded in every sphere of national development.
“There are challenges of vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure, theft of crude and refined oil, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, ritual killings and insurgency, among other heinous crimes that have become a cankerworm that must be eliminated.
“We cannot also be aloof or pretend to be unaware of the incessant vandalism and theft of our valuable national assets and infrastructure and our territory turned to a theatre of bloodshed and anguish by bandits.
“We have routed these gangs and individuals in all their bases and put them on the run. We shall not relent but remain absolutely committed towards extirpating them completely from our land.
“It is to this end that we are working assiduously to sufficiently equip the security agencies to further enhance their capacity, skills and competences to complete this urgent national mission.