The National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, on Monday described the outbreak of COVID-19 as one of the emerging biological threats to national security.

Mr Munguno who spoke at a five-day training on Biorisk Management and Public Health Emergency Preparedness, organised by the Office of NSA, highlighted that the outbreak of the pandemic has led to the loss of lives and worsened economic condition.

“The aim of the training is to acquaint participants, who are largely public health practitioners from Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, with emerging biological threats to national security.

“With 4th wave of COVID-19 cases receding across Nigeria, we hope to consolidate gains of this meeting to provide basis for future engagements as we seek to build a viable force to curtail any threats to national security emanating from biological threats,” Mr Monguno represented by the director, Policy and Strategy, ONSA, Aminu Lawal said.

“The crises that engulfed the world brought economies to low point and that disruption is still ongoing.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic had also left in its wake, loss of lives, economic losses as well as stalled programmes and activities due to strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, amongst others,’’ he said.

Mr Monguno said the training was designed to bring together critical personnel drawn from over 20 MDAs to equip participants with current trends in the Biospace as the next potent threat to national security.
The training was held in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and other technical partners on Monday, in Abuja.

(NAN)