A civil society group under the aegis of the Pan-African Leadership Transparency Centre (PALTC), Abuja, has honoured the Bayelsa State command of the Nigeria Security and a Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to Yenagoa.
The award of excellence in leadership was given to the Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu. They said they were monitoring all the activities of Agu, his achievements and leadership qualities since he assumed the command of NSCDC in Bayelsa. The visitors confessed that they read most of the activities of Agu in the Niger Delta Report.
The National Coordinator, PALTC, Mr. Valentine Agba; the centre’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lekpo Gideon; Field Coordinator, John Tondi, media crew and other members of the group came with the award and a certificate for Agu.
Gideon said Agu stood tall among his contemporaries adding that he had proved worthy of a leader. He said the commandant’s vas experience was uncommon; his humane disposition inspiring and his competence intimidating.
He said: “Mr. Agu is a distinguished icon, a professional expert, the most proactive civil Defence commandant and one of the best in the country.”
Gideon said PALTC was impressed at how Agu transformed an almost moribund NSCDC command in the state into a force to reckon with. He said Agu inherited a command that operated in a rented decrepit building but was able to build a permanent and world-class structure that impacted positively on the image of NSCDC.
“After careful analysis from the period he took over the Bayelsa State command of NSCDC, we discovered that Agu worked very hard to improve the command, turned it around and gave it a modern facelift. He worked very hard with diplomacy to provide critical infrastructures to improve the activities of his men and officers.
“He has achieved relevance, respect and recognition through hard work and dedication to his calling. His antecedents, recommendations and attributes earned him the prestigious leadership award”, he said.
Also corroborating the sentiments expressed by PALTC, Agu’s Second-in-Command, Udoeyo Anielka, said the award was not surprising to men and officers of the command.
Addressing his boss, he said: “We can testify that you met nothing on ground. But your singular effort, fighting like a lion, you have brought us to the mainstream and we are now a force to reckon with.
“There is nothing done in this state that civil defence is not called upon. We have the synergy with other security agencies. We work as a team and that is why we are succeeding”.
Also in his remarks, the Deputy Commandant and Head of Intelligence and Investigation, George Anyanwu, said al the officers in the command had been encouraged by the award.
He said apart from his achievements, Agu had shown love to the downtrodden. He said despite his busy schedule, Agu was fond of showing humility by attending social engagements involving his officers.
In his address, the commandant who was elated by the recognition, described the award as the greatest among over 35 awards he had so far received. He said in all other states like Enugu, Delta and Plateau, he worked before coming to Bayelsa, he was driven by patriotism.
He extolled the virtues of the Commandant-General and thanked him for having confidence in him. He promised never to disappoint the commandant-general and the country while discharging his functions.
“I have served my country and this organisation with sincerity. I believe that was what touched this organisation to recognise me in this manner. Since I came to Bayelsa, NSCDC has achieved a lot.
“We have a good relationship with other security agencies. We have destroyed more than 1000 illegal refineries in the state. We have prosecuted many cases and some cases are still in the court.
“The command is one of the best commands as far as the NSCDC is concerned. I thank my commander-general for finding me worthy to be posted in this state. I will not fail you. I will serve my nation with all my heart. I will serve the nation with sincerity.
“I can’t achieve this without the support of my subordinates. I dedicate this award to my subordinates. To whom much is given, much is expected.
“This is a responsibility for us to do more. We will work harder and this nation will remain united and in peace. Whatever we can do to ensure that Nigeria remains crime-free, we will do it”, he said.