A Group with a mission to discourage vandalism of public infrastructure, Noble Minds Initiative, has inaugurated national executives, state/Federal Capital Territory (FCT) task force commissioners and their local government executives to protect national critical assets in the country.

In his inaugural speech, National Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the task force, Ikechukwu Goodluck Chukwu, stressed the importance of collective efforts in protecting Nigeria’s infrastructure and resources. He urged the new officials to work tirelessly in promoting the group’s objectives and ensuring a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

Similarly, the Niger State Commissioner for the Task Force, Adamu Suleiman Mashegu, assured that his team would work tirelessly to eliminate looting, bunkering, exploitation and hoarding. He added: “We will collaborate with stakeholders, engage communities, and support our security agencies to achieve our goals.”

I pledge to lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability. I advise all members of the task force to join me in this commitment.” Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who is a patron to the Niger team, lauded the group’s mission.

He said: “These sectors are faced with major challenges like illegal exploitation and lack of protection from exploiters, who are sometimes foreigners. In Niger State, we have had experiences of illegal miners targeting Zuma Rock and other related rocks, and they exposed them to unorthodox exploration. The government had to intervene to save the Rock otherwise we would have lost the Zuma Rock, which is a national asset.”

Matane added that the initiative would foster collaboration in a way that relevant institutions will be reminded of their duties for protection of national assets for the future, since over 90 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from there.