The Minister of Interior, Hon (Dr) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has inaugurated the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s mining sites.
Speaking after the inauguration in Abuja during the celebration of this year’s Civil Defense Day, the Minister charged the Marshal to be committed and dedicated to the responsibility given to them by ensuring all mining sites across the country are safe for legal mining activities.
He said that the NSCDC was specifically created to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure and that mining sites are critical to the nation’s future as the present administration tries to diversify the economy.
He said, “as a security agency, the more you do, the more you have lots to be done and must not be tired, but willing to do more,” he added.
The minister also directed the corps to always support the Fire Service and provide succour and support during national emergencies.
“Civil Defence has lots of work to do. You have arguable one of the most sensitive and broadest mandates”, he said.
He further said that there was need to review the criteria for the establishment of Private Guard Companies (PGCs).
We must be able to upscale our requirements and make the PGCs profession of pride because their job is security related.”
He added that he had summoned an emergency board meeting to look into the issue of the allocation of peculiar allowances due to personnel of the corps
“I will go the extra mile to get it if need be. We care about your welfare, just as you have sleepless nights because you want us to sleep, and you sacrifice too much for us to ignore you,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He charged the new mining marshals to be ambassadors of the ministry, as well as Nigeria, and ensure that the corps shine in the committee of security organizations.
Tunji-Ojo who also inaugurated operational vehicles for NSCDC, charged the corps to live up to its mandate of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, while urging the personnel of the corps not to concentrate on the already saturated areas of security architecture but rather pay attention to the protection of the nation’s critical infrastructure.
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, who said the mining marshals were well trained, noted that the Corps had discovered over 1200 illegal mining sites across the country. He explained that the squad was to protect legal mining sites, detect and apprehend illegal miners.
“The mining industry sometimes have these bad guys who hide in our forests and so it will not be a simple task, but we are capable, as our men have been well trained and are members of the special forces.
“They will work with sister agencies, especially the military, and in conjunction with the Ministry of Solid Minerals.
Speaking on some of the achievements of the Corps since his assumption of office three years ago, Dr. Audi stated that the Women Squad of the Corps, created to protect schools, had aborted 48 attempts by kidnappers to break into schools across the country.
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