Centre Decries Destruction Of Public Property

The Ashcraft Centre for Social Science Research has lamented the vandalism of public properties, insecurity and other socio-economic challenges confronting the country, and called for systematic approach to curb it.

Speaking against its forthcoming south south zonal stakeholders’ statutory summit in Abuja yesterday, the chief of strategic planning and innovations, Summit Planning Committee, Dr Chiakor Alfred cited the recent attack on Kuje medium custodial centre, saying there is need for a systematic approach to avoid such.

The summit with the theme, “Domesticating Stakeholders Statutory Responsibilities In Protecting Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure And Other Assets,” will engage stakeholders on how to deter and mitigate these challenges in a systematic and coordinated manner and will take place in Port Harcourt.

He said Nigeria is at present experiencing an intensity of insecurity, comparable to what obtained in Lebanon in the mid-1980s.

“The almost daily recurrent cases of terrorism, insurgency, cyber crimes, banditry, kidnapping, piracy, oil bunkering, drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime, have created an entirely new security environment.

“Nigeria now faces more security threats that have different characteristics from classic military conflict between states. The gross expansion of the contours that define security boundaries makes it imperative to recognize the eco-systemic dimensions of the threats that stare at us daily and in every form.

“One of the most worrisome challenges to Nigeria’s national economic development is the systematic vandalism, degradation and destruction of its critical national infrastructures and business assets,” he said.

He further said the consequences of these criminal activities constitute adverse national security risks of untold proportions and impact our collective destiny gravely by undermining investor confidence; inhibiting the drive for Foreign Direct Investment, social capital growth and real business development, and truncating real progress in other sectors of the national economy.

“We are calling on the partnership and support of all stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, with diverse political, religious and professional orientations to put aside all prejudices to help forge a common front to confront the monster that is threatening the integrity of our corporate existence as a people and as a nation.”