Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom Command, says it has deployed enough personnel to secure critical infrastructure across the state.
The Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Mr Suleiman Mafara, disclosed this in an interview in Uyo on Wednesday.
According to the commandant, the infrastructure belonging to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mafara said that there was an urgent need for the Command to be proactive and plan ahead to ensure safety of government critical infrastructure in the state as the Yuletide was fast approaching.
The commandant warned hoodlums and criminals to stay clear of INEC facilities and other critical infrastructure in the state, adding that anyone caught destroying government’s facilities would be dealt with decisively.
“Right now, we are in the period of elections and the NSCDC has the mandate to ensure that the 2023 elections hold peacefully in all parts of the country as arranged by INEC.
“The protection of the facilities is considered very critical to the successful transition of power.
“For this reason, the Command in conjunction with sister other security agencies has deployed its personnel to beef up security in all INEC facilities in Akwa Ibom.
“We can assure the good people of Akwa Ibom that INEC facilities in the state are safe; our personnel are there and are working around the clock to make all facilities safe.
“ Hoodlums should stay clear of these facilities,’’ Mafara warned.
The commandant said that the command would not relent in ensuring that bunkering of petroleum products was eliminated.
He added that the agency was working hard in collaboration with other security agencies and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to achieve success.
He appealed to Akwa Ibom people to furnish the command with adequate information on where they suspected illegal activities were taking place within their environments for prompt action.
“We have no fewer than 60 personnel manning the oil pipelines across the state to forestall any vandalism of the critical infrastructure and ensure safety.
“We also ensure maximum security for oil facilities and expatriates working in the facilities, our personnel are also safeguarding power infrastructure in the state,” he said.
The state commandant warned the public against dealing in adulterated petroleum products and vandalism of transformers and electrical installations in the state.
Mafara also warned unregistered Private Guard Companies (PGCs) to stay clear of the state stressing that the command would not tolerate any illegal operators there.
He noted that last week, two private guard companies were apprehended for extending their services to the state without fulfilling the laid down regulations.
“The business of operation is that anytime you extend your services to other states, you must make yourself known, you must register, and you must declare your operations, so that monitoring your activities can be effective.
“Basically, the role of PGCs at all times is to provide security, protection and information, quality intelligence since they operate in locations of government and private units in every sphere of occupational engagements.
“Through training and oversight supervision activities of NSCDC, they are imbued with cutting edge competence skills and capacity enhancement.
“The concept is in tandem with emerging global trends in the area of public-private partnership to provide security and contain insecurity in the country,” he said.
He said that the NSCDC would not tolerate any unregistered private guard company in the state, especially due to security challenges confronting the country.
He urged private individuals and organisations wishing to hire private security guards to cross check with the NSCDC to ensure that they were registered.