Olushola Omogbehin
The Nigeria Union of Infrastructure Protection Operations (NUIPO) has revealed its readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and agencies to protect Nigerian vital infrastructure assets.
This was disclosed by the president of the union, Dr Edison Nwadiaro while addressing members of the union in one of their social media platforms on Friday.
While addressing member, Nwadiaro said the objectives of NUIPO is to bring together relevant organisations to ensure that government infrastructures are adequately protected.
“The Aim and Objectives of Nigerian Union of Infrastructure Protections is to unite relevant agencies, stakeholders and members of the public to work together systematically to protect and secure Nigerians vital Infrastructure assets,” Nwadiaro said.
Speaking further, he said “the activities of the association is to put strategies in place to secure key National facilities such as Road, Bridges, oil pipeline, power lines, telecommunication, railway, water supply and other critical assets to ensure they are safe from vandalism, theft, sabotage and natural disasters.”
According to the President, the threats to infrastructure such as oil pipeline vandalism, cable theft and destruction of power installations are causing major setbacks to economic growth and national development.
He explained that government agencies such as Nigerian Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Police Force, the military and private security outfits are some of the relevant bodies that NUIPO will partner with to protect pipelines, Telecom and others infrastructures.
“Our activities under such an operation would likely include regular patrols of critical infrastructure sites, surveillance, monitoring and use of drones, cameras and sensors, rapid response to incidence of vandalism, theft or attack, public sensitization campaigns on importance of infrastructure collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
“Enforcement of laws concerning infrastructure protection, to maintain economic stability of minimizing distributions, ensuring regular provision of vital services like electricity and water, attract foreign investors, security and private sectors,” he said.
As government often lunches join operations such as Operation Puff Adder and Operation Crocodile Smile to secure specific sectors, NUIPO would function similarly but with a narrow focus on safe guiding all kinds of public and private infrastructures.
