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Tag: Abdullahi Muhammadu

  • Vandals, dealers in adulterated petrol risk 21 years imprisonment

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Thursday warned dealers in vandals and adulterated petroleum products that once they are caught, prosecuted and found guilty, they shall be sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

    Its Commandant General, Abdullahi Muhammadu disclosed this in his goodwill message at the Re-Inauguration ceremony of the new Executive Committee members of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) in Abuja. 

    His word: “There are laws, when you tamper with pipeline, damage and forceful removal. Anybody arrested on that fact will be charged under miscellaneous offenses act, and if found guilty, he will be prosecuted according to the law, and it is 21 years imprisonment.”

    Pledging the commitment of the corp to partner with the gas suppliers to tackle the menace of bunkering, vandalism of pipelines and adulteration of products, the noted that offenses are all different charges, which any arrested suspected must face. 

    The president of the association’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Mr. Bennett Korie, whom the Abdullahi Idris Deputy Chairman, BOT had said in his address that NOGASA was registered to partner with government agencies to discourage illicit transactions and distribution of adulterated petroleum products, and to aggressively campaign against sourcing of products from vandalized pipelines as well as other unlawful sources. 

    Read Also: NNPC cautions consumers against panic buying of petrol

    He added that every member of the association shall be exposed to some benefits such as provision of support for products, capital, insurance, litigation, banking relationships, information on product availability and price fluctuations. 

    In his acceptance speech, Korie warned those that prefer illegal loading points to desist from it, noting that it is no longer necessary. 

    According to him, illegal deal is harmful to the reputation of their business. He explained that as employers of labour, it is better to guide against anything that can jeopardize the jobs of their employees and frequent damage emanating from use age of adulterated products. 

    Thanking the association, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by Salamatu Abdukadir, urged the members to sustain the cooperation that has existed between them and the federal government.

  • Osun Guber Poll: NSCDC warns officers against bribe taking

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)  has warned its officers against collecting bribe during the Osun governorship election scheduled for Sept. 22.

    Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, Commandant General of NSCDC, gave the warning on Wednesday in Osogbo, at a town hall meeting with stakeholders ahead of the governorship election.

    The meeting, with the theme: ‘Benefits of Violence-Free Elections’, was organised in partnership with a German foundation, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

    Muhammadu was represented by Dr Emmanuel Adeoye, Deputy Director, Crisis Management Directorate, NCSDC, Abuja.

    The commandant said any officer caught collecting bribe from politicians during the election would be summarily dismissed from service.

    He said that the corps would not allow any officer to discredit its operations.

    “Our only weapon is integrity, and we will not allow anybody to damage it,“ he said.

    Read Also: Buhari a ‘phenomenon’, says Lawan

    Muhammadu called for a violence-free election in the state, saying the election should not be a do-or-die affair.

    Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola said the only way to select a credible leader was to conduct violence-free election.

    Aregbesola, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori,  said that the nation could only have the best election when it was violence-free.

    The governor also said that there was need for the youths to be sensitised not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs during the election.

    Mrs Hildegard Behrendt-Kigozi, KAS Country Director, said the town hall meeting was organised to sensitise stakeholders on the need for a violence-free election in the state.

    “We are here today to share ideas in order to create better understanding, de-escalate tensions, and promote safety of lives and property in the state and Nigeria as a whole,” she said.

    NAN

  • NSCDC boss urges personnel to partner with sister security agencies

    The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, has urged personnel of the corps to work with other security agencies to provide security during the Easter celebrations.

    Muhammadu gave the directive in Abuja while addressing the Christian Faithful on the need to live in peace and unity with adherents of other faiths during the festive period, irrespective of religious differences.

    He also warned the corps personnel against any form of sabotage and crisis between them and sister agencies over issues that could be avoided.

    “Personnel are warned against any act of confrontation with personnel of sister agencies and members of the public.

    “Personnel are urged to always remember the Corps’ principle of no compromise while discharging their duties and should avoid the use of force and coercive language on the populace whom they are supposed to protect,” he said.

    The commandant-general stressed that partnership and collaboration was very pertinent as all the security agencies were working toward the single goal of protecting the society against insecurity.

    Read Also: NSCDC uncovers shrine in Kwara, arrest two

    He further warned that any officer or Command found wanting would be sanctioned appropriately.

    Muhammadu advised parents to warn their wards to desist from any acts that would violate to the law.

    “Vandals and saboteurs capitalise on festive periods to carry out their criminal acts.

    “The law is no respecter of anyone, therefore, anyone caught will face the long arm of the law,” he said.

    The commandant-general who relocated to the North-East since the abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls, also urged Christians to pray for peace in the country as well as the release of the remaining Dapchi girls.

    NAN

  • NSCDC deploys 50 motorcycles for patrols in Taraba

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp ( NSCDC ), has deployed 50 motorcycles to its Taraba Command to enhance patrol in flash points of the state.
    The State NSCDC Commandant, Alhaji Kamilu Isah, disclosed this in Jalingo in an interview with the News men.

    He said the motorcycles would assist the command in tackling the recurring violence in Takum, Mambilla and Lau areas.

    “Adequate arrangements have been made for fuelling and maintenance of the motorcycles which will encourage my men to tackle criminality in difficult terrains.

    “Security equipment including bullet proof vests, boots, helmets, shocking batons were also provided to the command.

    Read Also: Jigawa NSCDC tasks 28 promoted officers on commitment, dedication to duty

    “Other gadgets that will not be disclosed for security reasons were also provided by the Commandant General,’’ he said.

    He appreciated the support of the Commandant-General, Abdullahi Muhammadu to the command and assured that the facilities would be put to very effective use.

    On synergy with sister agencies, Isah said the NSCDC and other security agencies in the state were like a family.

    “We have been working as brothers and sisters. We share information, we consult one another; we are a family with a common goal,” he said.

    NAN

  • NSCDC dispels rumours of recruitment

    NSCDC dispels rumours of recruitment

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) has dispelled rumours that the Corps was “recruiting underground” and carrying out replacement exercise.

    The Corps Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, said this in a statement in Abuja.

    Okeh said the Commandant-General (CG) of the Corps, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, had urged  job seekers and the general public to disregard the rumour.

    Muhammadu said the false information was a gimmick being peddled by fraudsters to defraud unsuspecting applicants of their hard earned money.

    He noted that a number of unemployed Nigerian youths had shown interest in enlisting in the Corps.

    “And this has attracted some dubious individuals who have resorted to spreading false news and sending text messages to them on non-existing recruitment and replacement exercises,” he said.

    The NSCDC CG stated categorically that the Corps would advertise its existing vacancies before the end of the year for interested candidates to apply.

    This, he said, would be done as soon as fund was made available to the corps.

    He said that the documentation and data capturing exercise for personnel presently going on at the State Commands of the Corps nationwide was being misconstrued by criminally minded individuals to mean recruitment or replacement exercise.

    He said further that the fraudsters were all out to take the advantage of the ongoing exercise to drive home their aim of defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “That due to the forthcoming promotion exercise, the Corps is only issuing old letters of appointment and promotion to personnel who merited it.

    “But for administrative reasons they were unable to receive their letters in the last exercise conducted and it is expedient for them to document at this point in time due to the forthcoming promotion exercise,” he said.

    The CG, therefore, advised applicants to exercise patience and wait for the appropriate time the Corps would advertise its existing vacancies in major National Newspapers.

  • U.S National Guard to train NSCDC personnel

    U.S National Guard to train NSCDC personnel

    The California National Guard, U.S., has offered to train personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in peace, security and emergency response in line with international best practices.

    The Adjutant General of the California National Guard, Maj.-Gen. David Baldwin, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Muhammadu.

    The NSCDC spokesperson, Emmanuel Okeh, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Baldwin ‎assured the NSCDC of priority attention especially to the areas of Disaster Management, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Security, Aviation, Fire prevention, Medical, Training and re-training of officers.

    He stressed that capacity building was a very critical area of manpower development and the technological enhancement of security agencies in combating insecurity in the society.

    He also proposed that some officers of the Corps could be trained in the U.S in the afore-mentioned areas to become specialists in them.

    The Commandant-General ‎briefed the visitor on the history and core mandate of the Corps.

    He said th‎at the NSCDC officials needed more capacity building and training to tackle issues such as pipeline vandalism, illegal mining and protection of lives and property.

    The California National Guard officials had earlier visited the Ministry of Interior and some services under the ministry to strengthen collaboration.

  • NSCDC, DISCOs, partner to combat vandalism of electrical installations

    NSCDC, DISCOs, partner to combat vandalism of electrical installations

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) are collaborating to fight vandalism of electricity installations in the country.

    The Spokesperson of the Corps, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    “We are working closely with the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to ensure adequate protection for these critical assets to avoid vandalism by unscrupulous elements,’’ Okeh said.

    He also said that the Corps had stepped up surveillance around electricity installations in the country to stem the tide of vandalism of the critical national asset.

    He said the Commandant-General of the Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu, had directed all State Commands and the Arms Squad to work closely with the various Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to ensure adequate protection for the facilities.

    He said that the NSCDC had also intensified its enlightenment campaign in the media to dissuade members of the public from engaging in such “criminal act and economic sabotage’’.

    Okeh said that the Corps had recently arrested and paraded some vandals caught stealing armoured cables belonging to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) based on its surveillance.

    He called on communities where these installations were domiciled to always promptly report any acts of vandalism to the NSCDC or the nearest security post.

    The NSCDC spokesperson also emphasised the need for more intelligence, logistics and patrol vehicles to enable the Corps to properly protect the numerous critical infrastructure in the country such as Electricity, Telecommunication installations and oil pipelines scattered across the country.

    The AEDC’s Head of Public Relations and Media, Mr Ahmed Shekarau, confirmed that the company was partnering with the NSCDC to fight the menace.

    “We have a multi-purpose strategy to check the menace; you remember we had visited the Commandant–General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) on the partnership.

    “We have also visited the Inspector–General of Police , and he has agreed that the Force will collaborate with the AEDC to achieve the objective,’’ Shekarau said.

    He told NAN that vandalism of electrical installations was a major challenge to the operations of the company.

    NAN reports that activities of vandals had occurred in many areas in the FCT,especially in the Central Business District, and in such satellite towns as Lugbe, Kuje, Kubwa and Nyanya, resulting in power outage there.

    Shekarau said the number of cases of vandalism of the company’s installations assets was on the increase.

    “If I tell you the number of vandalism in Lugbe, last month alone, you will be shocked, and if I tell you the number of cables that were vandalised in Kuje, between last month and this month, you will also be shocked,” he said.

    He said that the AEDC was engaging members of the communities concerned to curtail the menace.

    “We are engaging with the communities on this issue, because if you look at the city centres where you even have light, you have street light, yet people still go and vandalise them; and in some of the places, the vandalism takes place in broad daylight,’’ The AEDC spokesman said.

  • Eid-el-Fitr: NSCDC deploys 40,000 personnel, sniffer dogs nationwide

    Eid-el-Fitr: NSCDC deploys 40,000 personnel, sniffer dogs nationwide

    ‎The ‎Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu, has directed that 40,000 personnel be deployed nationwide to provide security during the  celebration.

    The spokesperson of NSCDC, Emmanuel Okeh, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    ‎He said that in addition to the 40,000 personnel, sniffer dogs and specialised units such as SWAT, Special Force, CBRN, Surveillance Monitoring Team, Ambulances/Rescue Officers would also be deployed to strategic areas.

    ‎Muhammadu‎ assured Nigerians that adequate preparation had been made by the Corps to protect critical areas.

    He listed such areas to include places of worship, markets, motor parks, shopping malls, recreational centres, schools and other areas considered to be soft targets for attack by insurgents.

    He called ‎on the citizens to be extra vigilant and security conscious at all time and report strange movements and objects to security personnel and the Corps immediately.‎

    “In our efforts to fight miscreants and criminal-minded individuals, who see festive periods as the time to perpetuate their nefarious activities, all hands must be on deck in the areas of intelligence-gathering and reporting suspicious behaviour to relevant security authorities,” he said.‎

     

    He felicitated with Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful on the Sallah celebration and urged them to continue to imbibe the spirit of peaceful co-existence and tolerance at all times.

  • NSCDC suspends 2 officers for oil theft

    NSCDC suspends 2 officers for oil theft

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has suspended two of its officers for alleged involvement in oil theft in Bayelsa.

    The Corps Sp‎okesman, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    Okeh said the management of the Corps condemned the alleged possession of illegal petroleum products suspected to be diesel (AGO) by two officers of the Corps who were recently arrested and presented to newsmen by the Police.

    He said that the‎ ‎Commandant-General of the Corps, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, had set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the matter for proper action to be taken in line with the public service rules.

    According to him, the affected personnel, Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASCI) Agah Utavie, and Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASCII) Angel Kilosomewo, ‎had been suspended from the service until investigations were concluded.‎

    He said that the Commandant-General of the Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu, had therefore warned officers and men  of the Corps to desist from such act or face the full wrath of the law.

    NAN reports that the Police had on March 23 presented to newsmen two officers of the NSCDC for allegedly dealing in suspected illegally refined diesel in Otuasegha area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

    The Police‎ Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, had said that the suspects were arrested by the Inspector-General of Police (I-G’s) Special Task Force on March 7. ‎

    Moshood said that their office had been informed and that the police investigating team was awaiting their response to conclude investigation into the case and arraign them in court.

  • Pipeline vandalism: NSCDC seeks host communities’ cooperation

    Pipeline vandalism: NSCDC seeks host communities’ cooperation

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called on communities in the Niger Delta to volunteer more information on activities of pipeline vandals to enable the Corps flush them out.

    The NSCDC Spokesperson, Mr. Emmanuel Okeh said that the Commandant-General of the Corps, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu had ordered NSCDC officials to evolve new strategies and redouble their efforts in tackling the menace.

    Okeh said that more than 20 illegal refineries and 100 suspects were recently arrested in the region following intelligence report.

    He explained that the NSCDC had also established a 24- hour Command and Control Centre in Abuja as part of plans to enhance its surveillance on the pipelines.

    The spokesperson also stressed the importance of the cooperation and support of host communities to enable the NSCDC improve its operation in the region.

    “With the support and cooperation of host communities in the Niger Delta, I can assure you that our operations will be enhanced.

    “We need all the necessary information on the activities and hideouts of these vandals from the host communities, he said.

    Okeh described pipeline vandalism and illegal refineries as economic sabotage and environment hazard capable of destroying a nation.

     He said that the NSCDC would continue to collaborate with other security agencies like the Navy to stem the tide of vandals in the Niger Delta.