The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu revealed that between January 2018 till date, the Corps arrested 351 suspected vandals of Critical Infrastructure and economic saboteurs across the States out of which 62 suspects have been convicted and 289 under prosecution.
He made this known during the visit of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Interior Dr. Muhammed Umar and his team for an over sight and familiarization tour of the Corps facilities.
The Corps Chief Executive enlightened the visiting team on the Corps mandate, activities and achievements recorded. He informed them that the Corps as an International Organisation is an affiliate of the International Civil Defence Organisation with the Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland with Disaster Management as its core mandate.
He enumerated the various requests from Federal Ministry of Agriculture which informed the formation of the Agro-Rangers for the protection of the intending Cattle Ranches and Agro-Allied Industries in the country, the requests from Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, Ministry of Water Resources for the protection of the Dams from being poison, Railway Corporation, Deployment to North-East among others.
While appreciating the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the Corps through budgetary allocation, he however decries the challenges, militating against the Corps thereby, stating that, like ‘Oliver Twist’ in as much as the requests keep-coming, definitely there will be need for more manpower and other logistics such as operational vehicles and other security gadgets, lack of space to keep and safe guards exhibits among others.
He echoed that the Corps have trained and certified over 500 chartered mediators and conciliators by the United Nations in order to mediate in crisis situations which it has played significant roles in averting crisis, in several communities and also the setting up of peace clinics in most of the crisis ravaged communities.
Gana reiterated that, apart from Disaster Management which is the Corps main function Internationally, the Corps is responsible for the protection of Critical Infrastructure, as well as repositioning, professionalising and licensing of the private guards company for effective performance in order to compliment the role of the regular security agencies of government.
In a swift reaction, the Permanent Secretary Dr. Muhammed Umar, appreciated the effort of the Corps in stemming the tide of insecurity in the nation especially the deployment to the North-East to take over liberated towns and to win the peace.
He also commended the Corps and the level of synergy with other services especially the relationship with the Armed Forces and the involvement in the various Task Forces.
He however assured the Corps of complete support at all times in ensuring that the challenges faced by the Corps and the requests made will be looked into considering the fact that the Corps assignment does not infringe on that of others and the Corps its suppose to be everywhere to fill in the gap where others could not reach due to its civil nature.
He therefore, admonished the Commandant General by assuring him that there should be more robust synergy between the Corps and NEMA as well as the police in tackling and enhancing internal security.
However, he promised to request on behalf of the Corps for a special fund to enable the Corps discharge her functions without hitches.
The Commandant General welcomed the visiting team and took them round for sightseeing of the projects and achievements recorded so far.
DCC EMMANUEL OKEH
CDPRO
