Federal Government has ordered the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to take over the protection of transmission lines and towers in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunjo-Ojo, gave the order during the passing-out parade of the 2nd batch of mining marshals of the NSCDC in Abuja on Friday.
While commending the Corps for doing a great job in the protection of the mining sites in the country, he charged them to now focus on the protection of power assets.
Nigeria has recorded at least six major vandalism of power infrastructure and assets between December last year and now.
The minister said: “We will take it sector by sector. We will protect the power sector. We will secure the energy sector. I challenge you to rise and protect the critical national assets of Nigeria.
“The rate of vandalism and and economic sabotage going on in our transmission lines need to be looked into. In view of this, it is your job to make sure that no critical asset of government is destroyed.
“I believe that all you need is leadership and I will give you the leadership.”
Speaking also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, acknowledged that the revenue in the mineral sector has improved after the introduction of the NSCDC Mining Marshals.
Alake who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Mary Adah Ogbe, warned miners to formalise their operations or face the law.
In his remarks, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, stated that the mining sector is being threatened by the nefarious activities of illegal miners, bandits, kidnappers and terrorists.
He said the situation had led to a major setback in the development of the country’s otherwise very lucrative mining sector.
“Taking against this backdrop, the need to put in place adequate security measures towards strengthening security and safeguarding our collective patrimony cannot be overemphasized,” he said.
A total of 350 personnel passed out as the 2nd batch of the Mining Marshal.
