By Paul Michael, Abuja
Command General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, at the weekend went on inspection tour to see the extent of damage done to its exhibit yard that was set on fire in Iriebe, Ohio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State.
A few days ago an exhibit yard jointly owned by the NSCDC and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where different impounded trucks laden with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and other recovered items were kept, was set ablaze by suspected hoodlums.
It was learnt that it took the combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) fire fighters to contain the fire from spreading to private properties. The Trumpet gathered.
The Corps said it has arrested five suspects in connection to the fire incident as investigation continues.
While restating the commitment of the NSCDC to the war against illegal bunkering, the Rivers Commandant, Abu Tambuwal, vowed that those arrested in connection with the inferno would face the full wrath of the law.
Tambuwal said the command under his watch remained resolute in its efforts to collaborate with other security agencies to tackle illegal oil businesses in Rivers.
He said: “Obviously this occurrence is an act of Sabotage by evil-minded persons who want to get back to the NSCDC at all cost; We will not be deterred in our dogged and resolute fight against vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products.
“We thank the Federal and State Fire Services, the firefighters unit from Shell Petroleum Company and everyone who collaborated with the NSCDC and EFCC in curtailing the spread of the inferno across neighboring properties.
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“The need for stronger synergy amongst security agencies is very paramount, most especially in the area of intelligence and information sharing as this would definitely enhance the security architecture of the State.”
Meanwhile, Audi has restated the commitment of the Service to the human capital development of its personnel. Adding that under his leadership the training facilities of NSCDC will continue to be upgraded.
The Commandant General stated this while playing host to the new Sub-saharan Africa Desk Officer of KAS, Mrs Julia Sander, adding that the existing partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stitfung (KAS) will be sustained. He promised to promote good working relationship and a conducive environment for the partnership to thrive.
Audi described KAS as a viable partner in training and retraining of officers and men of the Corps in different areas of its mandates.
Noting that numerous members of the Corps have benefitted immensely from KAS programs, he attested that on his part, he has attended more than 10 trainings and workshops organized by the organization while growing in the service.
He appreciated the international body for the numerous training programs organized for the Corps in peace and conflict resolution, mediation skills, training for NSCDC instructors and the donation of ICT equipment to the college of security management, Abeokuta.
Audi added that KAS has equally assisted in creating a platform for collaboration and synergy amongst security agencies in Nigeria through inter service training and workshops which is intended to address current security challenges such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, among other issues facing the country.
According to the Corps helmsman, his leadership understood the importance of training in the growth and development of any organization, hence, the reason for currently investing more in manpower development of personnel through infrastructural upgrade of all Civil Defence training academies nationwide.
He said the Service is setting up of a high powered ministerial committee to develop a standard curriculum for the service in order to bring out the best in the staff.
Speaking on the purpose of her visit to NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja, Mrs Julia Sanders, explained that as the new Sub-saharan Africa Desk Officer of KAS, there is need to familiarize with various partners such as NSCDC in order to get more insights on the Corps activities with a view to strategically plan for more future collaborations and engagements.
She further appreciated NSCDC for living up to its responsibilities through its immense contribution to security of citizens and protection of critical national assets and infrastructure of government and commended the CG for creating a conducive environment for the partnership between the Corps and KAS.
Reassuring that more training programs is in the pipeline to compliment the previously held ones in the South-South, North-East and North-West among other locations, she stressed that the partnership with NSCDC would be sustained.
On his part, representative of KAS in Nigeria, Dr Vladimier Kreck, who has worked very closely with the Corps, commended NSCDC for its discipline and forthrightness so far exhibited within the period he has worked with the Corps and encouraged the CG not to relent in his drive to take the service to a whole new level.
