By Adadainfo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dissolved its anti-vandal units nationwide. The unit is the corps’ arm for the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets and infrastructure.
The dissolution was contained in a statement issued by DCC Olusola Odumosu, director, public relations of the corps, made available to our reporter on Wednesday.
The release quoted the commandant general of the corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, saying the minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola, approved the measure to reposition the corps for better service delivery.
The CG also directed that all illegal roadblocks mounted by the anti-vandal unit across the nation be dismantled with immediate effect.
The statement read, “In view of the recent developments in some states and the unsatisfactory performance of the unit in the past few months, there is need to sanitise and bring fresh zeal to the operations of the unit.
“The minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the dissolution of the unit nationwide and the dismantling of all unapproved road-blocks mounted by NSCDC personnel across the country with immediate effect.
“The minister has also directed the immediate reconstitution of the anti-vandal unit nationwide and we are going to do that without delay.”
He said the federal government expressed displeasure over oil theft which ‘requires drastic measures by the corps to protect the major revenue base of the country’.
He decried the insinuations in some quarters that security agencies are accomplices in oil theft, warning that NSCDC would not hesitate in using its internal disciplinary mechanisms to sanction any personnel found sabotaging government’s efforts.
On how much support the NSCDC has received from government in waging war against the menace and other related crimes, Dr Audi thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for support which, according to him, has resulted in the procurement of eight gunboats commissioned for use in the Niger Delta region recently.
He added that very soon, operational vehicles procured by the corps from the federal government’s support would be commissioned.
