by Jane Osamor
“The Corps is ready to build a befitting State Command Headquarters as soon as we get land from the ever supportive Government of Lagos State so that Lagos State Command will wear a befitting look like others commands across the federation,” Audi said .
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, yesterday, Wednesday, 29th November, 2023, visited, Lagos State Command situated, in the capital of the state, in Alahusa, Ikeja.
The visit of the Commandant General, marks another major milestone, in the anals of history of the Corps, which was first established, in Lagos state as a voluntary organization in the year 1967, before its regularization as a full – fledged paramilitary service of Nigeria in 2003.
The NSCDC, Lagos State Command, gave the Commandant General a resounding, iconic, ceremonious and excellent welcome into the state of excellence and well known for greater international relevance across the globe.
The Commandant General addressed, the officers and men of the Command on very salient and expedient matters connected to their welfare, training and retraining, which will enhance productivity, professionalism, discipline and career development in the service amongst other things.
The Commandant General also seized, the opportunity of the event to extol the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji – Ojo, for the excellent efforts he is currently putting in place to create impeccable and positive reforms in the Corps.
“The Corps is ready to build a befitting State Command Headquarters as soon as we get land from the ever supportive Government of Lagos State so that Lagos State Command will wear a befitting look like others commands across the federation,” Audi said .
The Commandant General further affirmed that he has made very serious efforts to end career stagnation in the Corps; that is a situation where officers wait for six to eight years, before they are promoted, to their next rank will now, be a thing of the past.
The Commandant General also commissioned, a newly equiped Sexual and Gender Based Violence ( SGBV ) Unit Office in the Command, powered, by Centre for Women’s Health and Information ( CEWHIN ), one of the Command’s strategic partners in the fight against all forms of SGBV cases.
The commissioning of the new SGBV office took place during the event, which also witnessed, a one – day training of forty safe school personnel drafted, from various divisions and locations, in a bid to aid identification of gender based issues and emplace response mechanisms in the schools across the state.
The aforementioned, training and new office facilities were provided, by Centre for Women’s Health and Information ( CEWHIN ) led by its Director, Mrs Atinuke Odukoya, Mrs Tumininu Oni, Head of Case Management Department, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and Mrs Ronke Oyelakin, State Coordinator, Child Protection Network Lagos.
The Zonal Commander, Zone A, Lagos, Assistant Commandant General Olasupo Solomon PhD., ( Host ACG ), in his remarks elucidated, the achievements of the Commandant General so far in very many divergents areas in line with the Corps’ statutory mandates, especially, the Gender mainstreaming policy of the service, which has now, made the Corps to also be at par with other security services, who practice best global strategies all around the world and are in line with the vision and mission of the Commandant General.
The Zonal Commander, Zone A, further expressed, his deep routed appreciations to the Commandant General and his team, for making another history in the sand of time in Lagos State as the visit also availed, the officers and men of the Command and Zone to closely, hear from their leader and vice versa.
The State Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant of Corps Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, MFR, fdc, while delivering his welcome speech took time to enumerate his achievements as well as challenges faced, by the Command since he resumed office in the state. He identified the challenges such as; lack of enough man power, inadequate operational vehicles, lack of a befitting State Command Headquarters amidst a few others with the aspiration that the visit of the CG will give the expected succour that the command has been yearning for.
However, the Lagos State Commandant appreciated, the enormous support of the State Government, under the able administration of His Excellency, Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo – Olu, for his immense support to the Corps, especially, in the provision of operational vehicles and other support services rendered to the Command in recent times. However, like an Oliver twist he said that more is still being needed from the Government to assist the Corps in carrying out its statutory mandate effectively and efficiently in the state.
Present during the visit of the Commandant General also to Lagos State Command, yesterday, included; Professor Tyoor Federick Themba, ACG Adeyinka Fasiu, Zonal Commander, Zone J, Commandant of Corps David Ojelabi, mni, Ogun State Commandant, Commandant of Corps Michael Adaralewa, Oyo State Commandant, Commandant of Corps Agboola Sunday, Osun State Commandant, Commandant of Corps Olayinka Olatundun, Ondo State Commandant, Eng., Lucky Onimowo, Lagos Man O’ War Commander, Honourable Remi, Durojaye, Mr Collins Balogun ( Cotton group ).
E – signed.
DSC Abolurin Oluwaseun, fcss, mpa, amb , anipr,
Civil Defence PRO, Lagos State Command.
