International Civil Defence Day: Stakeholders call for collaboration to end insecurity

Akpan Umoh, Uyo and Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom State Command has called on all security agencies and stakeholders in the country to collaborate and end insecurity plaguing the country.

The State Commandant, Mr Abidemi Majekodunmi, said this during the 2022 World Civil Defence Day celebration in Uyo on Tuesday.

Our correspondent reports that this year’s theme is “Uniting the World’s Leading Industry Specialists for the Safety and Security of Future Generations”.

According to Majekodunmi, the agency has devised and articulated a clear template of synergy with critical stakeholders to fashion out appropriate response to societal challenges.

“We call on all stakeholders of the Nigerian States; security agencies, professional bodies, inter and nongovernmental organisation, civil society, public and private institutions to close ranks and fashion out the most appropriate response to societal challenges.

“Therefore, the World Civil Day 2022 is the reinforcement of a basic fundamental fact of development, and a call for unity of purpose between government and industrial specialists in ensuring the safety and security of future generations,” Majekodunmi said.

He said the agency has continued to curtail the activities of vandals, adding that it has made several arrests, and suspects were arraigned in court.

The commandant further said that the agency has been collaborating with the Navy and Army where suspects of illegal bunkering were handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.

“Since my advent in Akwa Ibom State, we have successfully prosecuted all vandals and we have adopted proactive measures in this respect to prevent damages on government infrastructures.

 “To a very large extent, we have the directive of the Commandant-General to flush out vandals and criminals in the state,” he said.

He appealed to members of the public to support the agency by providing useful information that would help in the fight against insecurity in the country.

The commandant said that the NSCDC would continue to work very hard to ensure that challenges threatening the corporate existence of the country is addressed.

Similarly, in Bayelsa State, the agency pledged readiness to tackle disasters as well as collaborate with relevant security agencies.

Mrs Christiana Abiakam-Omanu, Bayelsa State Commandant of NSCDC read the message from the Secretary-General of the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) Mariatou Yap emphasising accommodating volunteers in disaster response and management.

The theme for the 2022 International Civil Defence Day is: “Civil Defence and Management of Displaced Populations in the Face of Disasters and Crises; Role of Volunteers and the Fight Against Pandemics.”

The ICDO urged the international community to capitalise on the potential of volunteers in the coordinated management of the movement of people and in the fight against the ongoing pandemic.

“The mobilisation of volunteers for disaster risk management is recommended at all levels of society.

“This is more so the case, in the prevention phase, in environments that bring together people on a continuous basis such as schools, markets, hospitals etc.

“In all cases whether in risk prevention or disaster response for which more specialised volunteers are required, volunteering must be taken into account in national, sectoral or specific response plans,” ICDO said.

Abiakam-Omanu noted that the day coincides with the coming on board of the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi and hence a double celebration for the NSCDC.

She applauded the leadership of the Commandant General, which has inspired the NSCDC in Bayelsa to work harder, leading to a more efficient operation.

Activities to celebrate the occasion included parades, accident and disaster response drills as well as thug-of-war between men and female squads of NSCDC in Bayelsa.

The occasion was attended by representatives of various security agencies in Bayelsa.