By Jane osamor
On assumption of office on the 9th of January, 2024, as the 17th substantive State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, Comdt. Maku Olatunde. A, very much aware of the responsibility and necessity to restore the lost glory of the command, charged officers and men to diligently carry out their duties, stressing that only result oriented officers would retain their offices.
In his first meeting with his management team, Heads of Departments and Units, Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and tactical Commanders, the new NSCDC helmsman made it clear to all that he is in Anambra to change the narrative . The dutiful Civil Defender pledged his commitment to use his wealth of experience to deliver on the Corps Mandate in the protection of Critical National, State, and Local Government Assets, in addition to safeguarding life and property, with the sole aim of making Anambra one of the most secured state in the federation.
” I am here to work in line with the vision of Dr. Ahmed Audi, the Commandant General who sent me here. So, anybody who is not ready to work towards actualisation of this objective is free to voluntarily seek redeployment outside the state.
” I am going to enhance our capacities with training and retraining, and provision of necessary operational tools to assist in the command’s efforts in tackling various security challenges bedeviling the State” he concluded.
To widen his operational prowess and obtain first hand knowledge on the task ahead, Comdt. Maku embarked on a familiarization visits to relevant stakeholders and sister security agencies in the state. The visit afforded him an opportunity to unveil his mission to the State and solicit complimentary support therein.
Not satisfied with the command’s environment, he inaugurated a committee headed by his second in command, Deputy Commandant Steve Ikeorha to see to the cleaning of Command premises for healthy habitation. This provided dedicated officers and men a safe and functional workplace to operate in.
By dint of hard work, courage and clear- minded focus, Commandant Maku has been able to get another befitting official residence for the State Commandant from the State Government better off from the dilapidated State Commandant Quarters structure hitherto before now.
Being a commandant with human feelings, and having noticed below the belt morale of officers and men hitherto, he initiated Monthly wage award with cash backing to appreciate personnel who show exceptional dedication to duty, aside motivating personnel with stipends at intervals. This gesture greatly improved the performance of officers and men to give in optimal productivity.
With the intense passion and unflagging commitment of Commandant Maku to vigorously pursue a journey for true and enduring greatness; the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR, rewarded him with a brand new Hilux Vehicle as his official car.
Seeing the limitations in his operational effectiveness in terms of mobility , he revived the latent Technical Department of the Command and followed it up with repair and refurbishing of all the grounded vehicles for the beneficiary operations department and other units who urgently required them. He has started the process of retrieving two out of the 5 Innoson Vehicles parked at the Mechanic Workshop at Government House for repairs.
The Corps as at today is a component of the operations of Joint Task Force (JTF) , operating within the state. Personnel of the Corps in the JTF have distinguished themselves in the discharge of their duties in this regard and have contributed immensely to the successes recorded by the JTF so far. It should be established that the inclusion and infusion of the Corps in Anambra State into the operations of the JTF was in recognition of the contributions of NSCDC in providing round the clock security in the state.
Knowing that the best way to upscale and position officers in order to give in their best is through exposure to new tactics to tackle headlong crimes and criminality, he gave priority to training and manpower development for high level operational efficiency. To this end, several workshops,seminars and intensive training programmes have been organized by the command to enhance personnel capacity.
Before the arrival of Commandant Maku, the command’s weekly muster parade was not in tandem with what is obtainable in other state command, he thereafter restructured, tutored and lectured the personnel on the acceptable way of conducting muster parade, this he escalated to all Area Commands, and Divisional Offices to commence same at their area of responsibilities.
These milestones are a testament to the unwavering dedication and vision of Commandant Maku in a short space to place NSCDC in a vantage position to deliver on its mandate.
Under his leadership, Anambra NSCDC has recorded string of successes in the Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, clamping down on illegal operators of Private Security Guards Companies, and stoppage of illegal dealings on petroleum products, and petroleum products black market racketeering. The command has also maintained prompt sharing of actionable intelligence and effective synergy with other security agencies.
Prior to his deployment to Anambra State, Mondays are observed as sit-at-home days by many residents of the State in compliance with the IPOB directive , this not only crippled socio -economic activities, but forced financial institutions not to operate on Mondays.
However, the versatile Commandant with his peculiar modus operandi of inculcating native intelligence in crime fighting as a cerebral and operational officer established and launched Ops Anti- Sit -at-home order in tandem with the core mandate of NSCDC to protect Critical National State and Local Government Assets.
This continuous operation which is in its 10th week is targeted at preventing crime and putting an end to the deleterious and illegal sit-at-home order by the proscribed IPOB/ESN which has grievously affected the economy of the state and south-east region.
From the three banks that resumed normal operations when the Specialized Operation started, till now that almost all the banks are now functioning optimally in Awka,citizens can now go about their various legitimate businesses on Mondays without any fear of molestation.
Residents of Anambra State who expressed their delight with the level of response and cooperation from the banks, commended the State Commandant and NSCDC for their courage to bring the obnoxious sit at home to an end as the people have long been yearning for.
As at today, Mondays have now been fully brought back into the work days of the week in Anambra State.
In just 100 days , those things that seem impossible in the sight of many have been made possible through the passionate , natural ability and astute leadership style of Commandant Maku Olatunde whose actions had already shown his dedication to lead the Command to the promise Land.
Furthermore, Commandant Maku’s leadership has been marked by transparency, and a genuine desire to serve members of the public, the personnel of the command and the country at large.
With these commendable and modest achievements recorded in less than 100 days, prominent Anambrarians from all walks of life both within and in diaspora could not but continually applaud the Commandant General of NSCDC for bringing a magic wand of the true definition of an astute officer in the person of Commandant Maku Olatunde; whose significant strategic moves has defied characterization and put paid to the hitherto gory tales of woes that befell Anambra State Command.
As the command celebrates , Comdt. Maku, “the record breaker” first 100 days in office today, We pray that God will give him the wisdom to continue with the pace he started till he accomplishes his mission in the state.
Scripted by :
Superintendent of Corps
Okadigbo Edwin
Public Relations Officer
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
Anambra State Command
