By Palma Ileye
As part of measures to ensure the safety, and security of lives and property as well as surveillance of critical national assets and infrastructure, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has received three drones and 100 highly profiled self-configured walkie-talkies from international partners.
In a press release issued yesterday by Corp’s Spokesperson, CSC Babawale Zaid Afolabi, the Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi who received the gadgets on behalf of the Corps in his office, thanked Equipping the Needy Initiative, ETNI and its partner for the kind gesture.
Audi further reiterated that ETNI has demonstrated through their donation that security is a collaborative effort.
He said, “Our partners in their previous visit promised partnership and true to their words, they have come to fulfil that promise today, it shows that they just don’t do the talk they work the talk.”
He also gave the assurance that the gadgets donated will be optimally utilized saying that, “Anything being given has been given as a trust and the communication centre so promised will serve as a command and control centre where we will harness our national operations. The Corps is in charge of liberated areas and provides safety and security to IDP camps.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Equipping the Needy Initiative, Dr Benedict Aliku in the company of some passionate citizens of the United States who were also security experts and consultants, in his address said that their donation was a testament to their commitment to supporting the NSCDC, with the firm belief that security was a collective responsibility and their resolve to play their part effectively.
Benedict maintained that the organization will explore other areas for more collaboration, hence the intention to leverage on the NSCDC Act for future endeavours.
“One such initiative as we leverage on the NSCDC Act 2003 as amended 2007 is to embark on IDP shelter projects for the Needy in five States of Kaduna, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa, and will be managed by the NSCDC,” he said.
He added the construction of a communication Command Center that will be domiciled at the National Headquarters that will coordinate surveillance across the nation.
Another high point was the presentation of the award to the Commandant General in recognition of his unwavering commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of the people of Nigeria.
The Commandant in charge of the Counter Terrorism Unit CC Edike Akpan, thanked the Commandant General and partners of the Corps for beefing up the unit to meet international best practices and assured of the unit’s readiness to utilize the facility well.
The passionate United States citizens present were Judd Saul, International Director ETNI, Steve Fisher- US Adversary Board, Doug Bouton- US journalist and Mark Danner- Security Consultant.
The delegation later moved to the proposed site for the construction of the Counter-terrorism Response and Communication Centre.
