The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, says the corps is a Grassroots oriented Organization with the mandate to Defend the Defenceless with regards to the Fundamental Human Rights of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Gana made this assertion when the United Nations Counter Terrorism Commitee delegation, led by Mr. Wexiong Chen, the Deputy Executive Director of the (United Nations Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate) New York, paid him a courtesy visit at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja.
The CG enumerated the Corps mandate, stressing the need for more support and training in the area of protection of Critical Infrastructures and other National Assets in Nigeria, as they were in most cases readily available targets for both terrorists and vandals. He disclosed that presently, over 400 personnel were protecting the facilities of multinational oil companies in Nigeria, such as Shell, Agip, Mobil among others.
In the area of capacity building, Abdullahi Gana, revealed that over 10,000 personnel of the Corps had been trained on Counter Terrorism in Isreal, Pakistan, Italy and also in Nigeria, with the Nigerian Army School of Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency, as well as in Jaji, with the aim of tackling insurgency in the country.
Worried by the issue of synergy and partnership amongst the various Security Agencies, especially in the areas of Intelligence Gathering and Information Sharing, the NSCDC helmsman posited, that the only way to achieve the common goal of fighting terrorism was by strengthening and putting in place a high level collaboration among all stakeholders.
In a passionate appeal to the UN delegate, Abdullahi noted, that in spite of the trainings received so far by the Civil Defence Personnel, the Personnel still needed more exposure and more knowledge on Technological know-how to improve greatly in the fight against Insurgents, Vandals, Illegal oil bunkerers, oil thieves who had become more sophisticated and daring in their quest to actualize their nefarious acts.
In the same vein, the leader of the UN delegation said that he and his team were in Nigeria for action to assist in training and to profer solutions.
Chen highlighted that the fight against terrorism will not be complete without the role of the Law Enforcement Agencies.
He said the issue of coordination and training among the various Law Enforcement Agencies was Paramount, explaining that they must have basic trainings on close protection, to enable the Security Operatives protect themselves and the Populace in general.
He, therefore, assured the Corps of UN-CTED support in training the personnel and to also give logistics support.
In the fight against Terrorists, the Deputy Executive Director of UN-CTED spoke point blank that Nigeria cannot fight terrorism in isolation, hence there must be involvement of other Nations of the world, such as donor nations to assist in Financing, Trainings and providing of Equipment based on the need of the particular Nation.
Chen speaking further, advocated that the Nigerian State in tackling terrorism, must be through a holistic approach involving the three tiers of governments (Federal, States and the Local Governments) pulling together their resources to wipe out the menace. .
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