In Nigeria, the security situation in recent time has become precarious, posing serious challenges to the survival of the nation’s nascent democracy. CHRISTIANA ESEBONU writes that the recent arming of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in recognition of its giant strides, is part of government efforts to contain security crises and thus, provide a clement environment necessary for national development.
The recent approval granted to the NSCDC by the President, which empowers? to bear arms in line with the provision ot its ammended Act of 2007, is a clear indication that, attainment of any kind is preceded by hard work.
One may be tempted to ask the following questions; could this permission be said to be a swift response to wakeup calls, seeking the empowerment of our security agents, to enable them carry out their mandates effectively? Is it in a way offering motivational incentives to them in order to boost their level of productivity?
This arms empowerment of about 1,300 Personnel, who will form the nucleus of the NSCDC arms squad, is basically aimed at paving way for the organization, to contribute its quota to the nation’s achievement of peace, order and security.
For President Goodluck Jonathan, the decision to arm the corps, was to enable them tackle effectively the unfolding trend of insecurity in the country, as ascribed in the Corps vision of putting efficiency and credibility into the whole concepts of security, so as to restore the much needed confidence of the Nigerian public thus to the safety of their lives and properties*.
Empowering NSCDC according to Mr. President, was not just on the realisation that security of lives and property is essential for enduring progress and development of any nation, but also on the basics that the concept of development, could only be complete against the backdrop of peace of mind of the average citizens in a given society.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was first introduced in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then federal capital territory in Lagos for the purpose of sensitisation and protection of the civil populace. It was known as “Lagos Civil Defence Committee”.
Transformed from a voluntary to a fully fledged para-military status in? the NSCDC act 2003, the Corps as a matter of fact has tirelessly fought vandals and criminals who are often armed to the teeth with bare hands.
In its campaign of zero tolerance for corruption, the corps Commandant-General, Prof. Ade Abolurin, through his visionary leadership ensured that his officers, without arms, received first class training from reputable anti- graft bodies such as the Economic and financial Crimes commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) among others.
This move led to the establishment of its Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) aimed at checkmating acts that are not in line with government’s stand on integrity, accountability and probity.
The NSCDC under Prof. Abolurin has been of tremendous help and assistance? to the EFCC. The officers and men of this security agency are excellently committed to the service of security of lives and properties. They are indeed very loyal to the service of our dear nation even without arms, and have so far conducted over 60,000respective arrests of vandals.
The Commandant-General of this model corps did not only stoop to conquer hatred and condemnation, but ensured that pride and sentiment as well as bribery and corruption did not overwhelm his men?
This? is indeed a rare feat to come by.
The minister of interior, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, while congratulating the corps on what he termed, a recognition well deserved? posited thus, ‘with just about seven years into full fledged Paramilitary agency, NSCDC is today considered the future superstar of Nigeria’ s internal security . That bright and shiny future is just around the corner according to their active timetable. Arming the Corps, for me, is to honour and encourage them as people who are oasis of integrity.’?
‘I am extremely pleased with the news. it is something I never anticipated but it is a dream come true. Civil defenders are my role model. In fact, it is going to be fantastic to have them bear arms. Their intelligence gathering tips and efforts will no doubt help nip crime on the bud.’ The minister continued.’
‘The obvious benefit of this reward is that the corps, which I know and admire will appreciate that government is an honest employer and so will have no reason to fail the country they have vowed to protect. Earnestly, this deserving reward will boost their morale. Nigeria deserves a better deal as it marks it 51st Independence celebration.
‘It is a known fact that, the officers and men of the NSCDC are a hard working people. Rising early to disaster sites at the break of dawn, they toil to ensure that ugly situations are arrested. They put in so much energy and dedication to achieve result.
‘Hard work sure has its rewards, yes it does. You do not have to be a superman, but if you choose to work hard, consistently and be disciplined, then nothing can keep success from you. He who will not work hard, must surely decrease and he who will, must increase and be rewarded.
‘This is not surprising knowing how ebullient, diligent and resourceful the amiable Commandant-General is. This, further explains why right from the beginning of his administration,? he had a vision of pursuing? set goals as the centre piece of his organisations mandate, whose seed seems to have germinated with the prospect of bearing? good fruits.’ The minister attests.
Nigerians have in the past seven years appreciated with dignity, the corps crusade against national sabotage with regards to threat on the nation’s economic backbone (Oil) .The NSCDC, in pursuit of its mandate in the area of investigation and prosecution, intensified efforts in making sure that all economic saboteurs in terms of pipeline vandalism, oil bunkering and spillage, illegal operators of private guard companies and other related offences did not go unpunished as stipulated by the law.
Through its doggedness, the civil defence brought sanity into the operations of the Private Guard Security Companies. It has also ensured closed monitoring of the activities of PGC’s, while sensiitising them towards being proactive in matters relating to security.
Officers of the civil defence corps in spite of the juicy offer presented to them by arrested criminals in the course of discharging their statutory functions, have put on a corruption free garment. In fact, over 50 percent of these suspects have attested that the corps is bent on upholding its integrity, in line with its slogan which is ‘Collect bribe and Die.’
In bringing credence and new concept into the initiative of security, the NSCDC has paid special attention and support to sporting activities. This, according to the corps leadership, is to ensure that talents discovered are not buried but used to project the image of our dear Country.
One can therefore imagine what excellent height the corps would attain having been permitted to bear arms in the course of discharging its statutory mandate.
On the misconception and ill feelings about the arming of the corps as approved by the federal government, it will be worthy to note that, the Act empowering the Corps, passed by the National Assembly and accented to by the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria posits thus, ‘for the purposes of efficiently carrying out the functions set out in section 3 of the principal Act, the corps shall maintain an armed squad which shall be entitled to bear fire arms and deployed by the office of the Commandant-General.’
This means that only those in highly dangerous security duties as dictated by the law, would utilise such arms to check aggression. By implication, they are not to be seen like those of police on main roads.
This section clears the air regarding any possible controversy over arming the corps. It does not recommend the entire corps personnel to carry arms, but to maintain an armed squad for the purpose of its operation on protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from being vandalised, combating bunkering ,terrorism and other criminal acts, that are sabotaging governments efforts in delivering the dividends of democracy to its citizenry.
Historically, the formation of the corps between the world war I and II during the reign of Emperor Nero , civil defence personnel were trained by the military, where they served as a reserve pool for the military, popularly called ‘the home guard’.
However, it is sad to note that, a country witnessing incessant? rise in crime wave as a major challenge, coupled with the loud cry for proper empowerment by security agencies, could condemn governments efforts to live up to the society’s expectation of providing adequate security and protection.
With the current trend of crime in the society and global phenomenon; Nigerians should as an advocate for improvement with the supply of necessary equipment and logistics required to improve the services of our security agencies, rather than condemning positive moves and thus raising issues capable of creating tension, and possibly destabilise our polity.
Inciting spurious arguments over the arming of the corps, in the hope that the idea will redeem the images of failed security agencies which are sinking ever more into the doldrums will rather hasten results and determination of the corps to prove their critics wrong, who suggest the possibility of mis-handling the arm.
Sincerely they will agree that the arming of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps by President Goodluck Jonathan was long overdue and it is a reward well deserved for the agency.
The fact that the consequences of insecurity in every segment of our society have been undermined by the cancerous spread of selfishness, greed, avarice and above all, institutional jealousy rather than the much preached synergy, while thousands of blood thirsty criminals have become sources of threat to the common man in the country, is very worrisome.
After all, Nigerians are privy to the use of fire arms for effective discharge of assigned duties by other security agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Services, Prisons Services, Immigration , the SSS, DIA, NDLEA to mention but a few. Hence, the corps case should not be an exception.
Should detractors forget in a hurry, history will forever have it that this same baby agency has successfully stemmed the wave of pipeline destruction by bringing to book criminals, whose illegal activities has plunged the nation’s foreign exchange earning into the doldrums.
We may not all be civil defenders; yet, let us all celebrate their arming. This is because, this celebrated harvest by the security agency has in a way placed a huge responsibility of protecting lives and property on them.
Again, empowering the corps, means reposing the lost glory of internal security in our dear country, as this will be our assurances of a possible crime-free society, economic prosperity and above all , reward of a greater tomorrow.
Given the fact that pockets of political and religious disagreement which often metamorphose into terrorism in consonance with the trend in civilised societies has become the order of the day in Nigeria, arming the corps to the teeth will enhance high productivity with regards to reducing the menace of insecurity, as they will step up effort to abhor violent crimes and other related vices.
It also beholds on those in the media profession to make adequate research as the nations watch dog, to enlighten and educate the citizens on government policies, with regards to security rather than being used as a tool in running down government and its agencies, as well as its good intention.
The civil defenders must on their own combine the professionalism of a security outfit with the civil ethos of profound respect for the rights of citizens. In this way, it will justify the confidence reposed in them by some people and allay the justified fear clearly expressed by others.
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