We have lived up to expectations in anti-vandalism campaign --- NSCDC official

An Assistant Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Mr Ben Dikuro has said that the organisation has lived up to expectations in the anti-vandalism campaign.

Dikuro made the observation on Wednesday at a send forth ceremony in his honor after serving for 16 months as the Anambra Commandant of the NSCDC.

He said that the NSCDC under his administration in the state has created awareness on its activities, reduced vandalism of government assets and petroleum pipelines to a barest minimum.

“Prior to my posting to the state, pipeline and government asset vandalism and adulteration of petroleum products was high, but it has reduced to a barest minimum even though more needed to be done.

“The NSCDC has also streamlined the workings of the Private Guard Companies (PGC) in the state and helped to enhance their capacity for optimum security of lives and property.

“We sustained a cordial relationship and collaborated with other security agencies to provide security to citizens especially during the 2015 general elections.

“In all modesty, the NSCDC has lived up to the expectations of the founding fathers,” Dikuro stated.

The assistant commandant-general however noted that more was required to put the service in good stead in order to tackle anti-vandalism and other security effectively.

According to him, there is the dearth of staff in the NSCDC; we need more recruitment of officers and men to be able to cover the nooks and crannies of the country.

“As a matter of urgency, there should be a quarterly recruitment of officers at all levels.

“Also, the statutory funding of the NSCDC should also be improved especially to boost the training facilities of officers to further boost service delivery to the country,” Dikuro stated.

He commended officers for honouring him and advised them to remain alive to their responsibility and learn more about the workings and system of the NSCDC.

Various speakers from sister security agencies including the Prisons, Immigration, DSS, Army, Police, NDLEA and NOA, among others lauded Dikuro’s commitment to work and level of cooperation.

In his remarks, Chief Maduka Atuehi, the chairman, All license Security Practitioners of Nigeria, Anambra chapter, commended Dikuro’s contributions towards reforming the PGC in the state.

Atuehi however expressed concern over the activities of vigilante groups in the state, noting that they had taken over the constitutional role of PGC.

“Vigilante groups are meant to be community police but you will find out that they work everywhere; work in restaurants, hospitals and government facilities, among others which ought to be the job of PGC,” Atuehi said.

He appealed to the state government and the NSCDC to fashion out ways to correct the anomaly by recalling all vigilante men back to their communities for policing.

The chairman also appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider approving arms to the PGC in order to carry out their duties effectively.