By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – Mr Basil Igwebueze, on Monday assumed duty as the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers.
The command’s Spokesman, DSC Olufemi Oyodele, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said that Igwebueze would command NSCDC formations and units in Rivers.
Igwebueze replaces the embattled former NSCDC commandant, Mr Michael Ogar, who was suspended, following crises between the command and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Port Harcourt.
During at the takeover ceremony, Igwebueze promised that his administration would focus on intelligence gathering to tackle oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism
He said “Lack of communication and indiscipline often led to misunderstanding in an administrative system, hence officers and men must remain discipline and dedicated to their assigned duties.
“I believe in your (personnel) ability to give maximum support and necessary advice to this new administration, so that we can unanimously prosecute the mandate of the corps.
“Our mandate is to safeguard all critical national assets and Infrastructures, such as the protection of oil pipelines, electrical power installations, communication equipment and gadgets, schools, government structures and railways.
“Other activities are training, supervision, monitoring; issuance of certificates to private guard companies and disaster management, including issuance of warnings and rescue of victims, among others,” he said.
Igwebueze assured that the command would work closely with the state government, sister security outfits, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, media organisations and religious organisations to tackle crime in the state.
He thanked NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi for giving him the opportunity to serve, and promised that he would not disappoint the confidence reposed in him.
“So, I call on our officers and men to shun all kinds of nuctural gatherings and behaviours that intend to suggest that: my brother or my town man is the commandant.
“Everybody is my person and I am everybody’s person. Whether you hail from North, East, West and South, we are all one, and so, no preferences,” he added.
Igwebueze, who hailed from Isi-Uzo in Enugu, was the Commandant of Special Assignments at the commandant-general’s office, national headquarters before his recent appointment.
On his part, the NSCDC Commander, Zone L, ACG James Bassey, urged officers to give the new commandnant their full support, to enable him to achieve the mandate of the corps in Rivers. (NAN)
