Step up or be sacked, NSCDC boss warns commandants

To stem increasing insecurity in the country, Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has issued a warning to zonal and state commandants of the agency to step up their operational activities in securing the nation and safeguarding critical assets and infrastructure.

He gave the warning during a security meeting with the commandants at the Corps’ national headquarters yesterday in Abuja.

He noted that in view of the prevailing security situation in the country, it is imperative to redouble effort towards ensuring effective delivery of the Corps mandate in the enforcement of peace and development of Nigeria.

“Any state commandant that performs below expectation would be removed immediately without delay because we need to justify the confidence reposed in the Corps by the Government through concerted effort and by making a significant impact in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, disaster management, supervision of private guard companies and the protection of farmers and farmlands,” he said.

The CG said that the wave, dynamics and sophistication of crisis such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, militancy, ethnic agitation, kidnapping, oil bunkering and so on, has led to very serious devastation particularly on the economy, hence, the need for the corps to develop strategies that could best address this social menace.

According to him, “The only way to justify your existence is to carry out your duties beyond a reasonable doubt; our mandates are very clear. So, we must resist any attempt by criminal elements to subvert our peaceful coexistence and be able to show to Nigerians why we are collecting government salaries.”

Dr Audi decried the spate of insecurity in the country, which has recently assumed an alarming dimension and affected every facet of Nigerian life, thus, leading to severe social consequences across the six geographical regions but particularly the North-East, North Central and South-South.

He directed all the state Commandants to renew and strengthen their anti-vandalism drive by closing down more illegal refineries, arrest and prosecute oil thieves, illegal bunkering suspects and tankers loading, reloading and trans-loading crude oil across borders.

Audi promised to introduce career development progression courses for each category of officers, which will be the main determinant for their promotion and progression in service.