The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, has charged officers and men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to remain steadfast and committed to the fight against oil pipeline vandalism and associated crimes.
Ifeajika gave the charge when he received the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Delta State Command of the Corps, Mr Emeka Okwuechime, a Deputy Superintendent of the Corps (DSC), on a courtesy visit to him in his office at Government House, Asaba.
He said that officers of the Corps were playing unique roles in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in the state, saying that he was impressed with the high level of professionalism of officers and men in the command.
He advised them to continue to abide with the discipline culture of the organization and distance themselves from corruption.
He disclosed that the NSCDC had over the years demonstrated strong capacity in delivering on its statutory responsibilities, recalling that when the corps came on board some years ago, many people didn’t believe that it would stand the test of time.
“At the risk of eulogizing your service, when the NSCDC came on board, l am not sure that many people gave it a chance. That is the truth because many people thought that it will not stand the test of time.
“But today, I am sure that l am speaking the minds of many Nigerians that the service has stood out; it has demonstrated that it can walk its talk. The outfit is quite formidable.
“The remarkable feat that the NSCDC has achieved, particularly in the policing of oil facilities, not just policing them to make sure that things don’t go wrong but getting culprits arrested, is quite commendable.
“In the past years, the NSCDC has been in the news for doing very patriotic jobs in helping other security agencies in the country in mitigating criminality and l am sure that no government will overlook what the Corps is doing,” Ifeajika said.
The CPS said the task of securing the country and its critical infrastructure was everybody’s duty, adding that members of the public should give useful information to security agencies to enable them guarantee peace and security in Nigeria.
He said that the state government often supported security agencies in the state, adding that it was an issue that made the issue of devolution of powers and state police necessary.
While saying that the state government would sustain its robust relationship with NSCDC command, Ifeajika gave assurance that some of the requests made by the Corps would be channeled to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.
Earlier, the PRO of the NSCDC Command, Mr. Okwuechime, had said that the visit was to strengthen the relationship between the state government and the Corps.
He disclosed that so many arrests had been made in the fight against pipeline vandalism with some convictions secured, and assured that no effort would be spared in the performance of the NSCDC constitutional duties.
Under the safe schools initiative, Okwuechime said that NSCDC had structured a female combatant squad that would soon be deployed to schools in the state and other states of the federation.
He appealed to the state government to carry the Corps along in the scheme of things, even as he solicited for operational vehicles, safety jackets and boats among other logistics that would enhance its operational efficiency.
