The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, played host to the Senate Committee on Interior led by Senator Kashim Shettima on a familiarization visit to the Corp National Headquarters, Abuja.
Briefing the Committee, the CG expresses confidence that as an international organisation which has metamorphosed into its present status in Nigeria through act of Parliament enacted in 2003 as amended in 2007, the Corps has performed creditably in the three core mandate assigned to it by the Federal Government which is Disaster Management, Protection of Government Critical Infrastructure and National Asset; registering, training, issuing of license and monitoring of Private Guards Company. However, the demand for service of the Corps has continued to be in high demand but with staff strength of just a little over 50,000, the Corps is struggling to effectively deploy its personnel to meet various demands and challenges in security sector.
Gana also made it known to them that over 1.4 million applicants applied to be recruited into the Corps but having screened the various applications, the Board has shortlisted to 800,000 based on age and height.
He enumerated some of the achievement of the Corps under his leadership as the establishment of training schools like disaster management and peace study Katsina, Civil Defence Academy, Abuja which is ICT biased, Civil Defence Security Management Abeokuta, Civil Defence Staff College Kontogora and Civil Defence College Oji River – Enugu, proposed Civil Defence Command and Staff College, Azare, Bauchi and other newly completed and on-going State Commands building.
While still dishing out some of the achievement of the Corps, the Commandant General gave some insight into the Agro-Rangers unit and its operations in some States as it regards farmers’ security. That some states like Borno have embraced the concept and have supported the Corps with logistics and allowance for personnel who were deployed from the 5000 personnel already trained for the take-off. Also, 19 state governors has signified interest to partner in establishing the Agro rangers unit in their states, however, about 10,000 more personnel are still required to get the job done.
Gana went further that over 163 suspected vandals were arrested across the commands and are currently undergoing prosecution in courts. Presently, Nigeria is rated fourth in PGC activities in Qatar, NSCDC currently operate data for his PGC registration activities. The Corps with the aid of UN has trained over 6,000 personnel as Chartered Mediator to tackle insecurity.
The Senate Committee Chairman in his remark expressed gratitude to the Corps for the warm reception; he advised that there should be national spread of the Corps training institute to accommodate the six geo-political zones. He stressed that Nigerians are proud of the Corps and urged the CG not to relent in its effort to stem the tide of farmers/herders clashes through the Agro Rangers Unit set up to protect farmers and other agro-allied investments in the country. He also commended the Corps in the fight against vandals, illegal bunkery, illegal miners and his desire to transform the Private Guards security industry.
He advocated for synergy and collaboration with other sister agencies in tackling security challenges in the country, thereby avoiding inter agency rivalry. He suggested that the Corps should be given the mandate to carry out VIP protection considering the fact that the Corps is everywhere and the personnel are been used by government functionaries and other VIPs.
The Chairman cautioned that the law should not be a respecter of any person no matter how highly placed, whoever contravene the rule of law by doing the wrong thing should be allowed to face the wrath of the law.
DCC EMMANUEL OKEH
CDPRO
