A lecturer at the Department of Estate Management, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Joseph Oyedele, has affirmed that Nigeria needs between US$12 billion to $15 billion annually for the next six years to meet its infrastructure requirements.
The don made this known while speaking as a guest speaker at a summit tagged: “The Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection Summit”, organized by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Osun State Command in Osogbo, the state capital.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure As a Panacea for Underdevelopment’, the lecturer argued that the country’s infrastructure problems are enormous, saying before the challenges could be confronted headlong, all hands must be on deck.
According to him, “Nigeria’s infrastructure challenge is huge. Recent reports suggest that the country requires between US$12 billion to $15 billion annually for the next six years to meet the infrastructure requirements.
“The establishment of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was therefore one of the measures to protect critical national assets and infrastructure (CNAI) and was supported by NSCDC Act 2003 and amended NSCDC Act of 2007.”
However, the Vice-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, Professor Olayinka Ramota Karim, while speaking, stated that community leaders, citizens, and law enforcement agencies among others have critical roles to play in the protection of public infrastructures.
Represented by Prof. Goke Lalude, Prof. Karim identified the roles of infrastructure in National development, saying infrastructure development improves the standard of living for citizens just as she said that it promotes cultural exchange and knowledge sharing among other prominent roles.
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In his speech, the OSUN State NSCDC Commandant, Adaralewa Michael Akintayo, called for synergy between the citizens and security agents in protecting the public infrastructures
According to him, the task could not be easily achieved without the cooperation of the people living in the country.
“It is important to stress that the basic difference between developed and developing countries lies in the sophistication and prioritization of critical national assets and infrastructure which are now automated linking man to machines, and sectors to sectors.
“Unfortunately, however, these facilities appeared not to be accorded the needed level of protection by most nations leading to low economic activities detrimental to the well-being of the citizens in the long run.
“Finally, as I take my bow in loyalty, we must be constantly reminded that patriotism is a duty and not a choice. For this reason, the clarion call here is for all and sundry to collectively deal with the criminality predisposing national assets to various forms of threats/vulnerabilities.”
Earlier, the DCC, Vincent Gambo Linus, HOD CNAI said, “The summit was organised to highlight the strategic Protection Plan of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for critical assets/infrastructure.”