FEC approves NSCDC youth recruitment to curb crime

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

As part of measures to curb crime and reduce the youth unemployment rate, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given approval to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to recruit massively with a view to taking youths out of crime.

The Commandant General (CG) of NSCDC, Dr Abubakar Audi, disclosed this when he commissioned the armoury in the Bwari Central Divisional Office of the corps.

According to him, the Bwari Area Council is expected to benefit massively from the recruitment because of the number of unemployed youths.

Also, addressing over 150 members of the corps at the FCT headquarters after commissioning a newly constructed quarter guard built by the administration of the FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, the CG told the officers to desist from the temptation of accidental discharge as that’s unacceptable by his administration.

“Our main mandate is the protection of national critical assets and infrastructure and we must be seen doing it. That’s what government pays us for. We collect our salaries based on that and we have to be seen doing it. Above all, don’t use intimidation. Don’t forget, in our code of conduct, in our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), there’s no accidental discharge. If you make a mistake, either under the influence of anything or you become trigger-happy and pull your trigger and you kill any person, you’ll go for it. So, you must do your job very professionally. No intimidation. No harassment. No molestation. We don’t allow it in the corps. Be humble in doing your things and do your job. Then, avoid unnecessary clashes with sister agencies. Don’t forget, we are the last born. Because of over-pampering, the last born sometimes misbehaves. Do not allow that over-pampering to enter you. It’s not acceptable by this administration,” he warned.

In his remarks, the Commandant, FCT Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu, listed a number of achievements in his one-and-a-half-year tenure.

“It is now on record that the NSCDC FCT Command, in the last one and a half years, under my leadership, has made more arrests and paraded suspects far more than ever achieved in the command. Also, first in the history of the command, we now have a radio programme that runs weekly. With this programme, we have been sensitising the people of the FCT on issues bordering on their security and the protection of critical facilities,” he said.

Odumosu highlighted the importance of securing lives and property at the grassroots level, noting that it makes for a better assessment and understanding of the peculiar security situations of the people.

“In this job of ours where security of lives and property is our preoccupation, the importance of strengthening grassroots administrative and operational activities cannot be overemphasised. Not too long after I assumed duty, I created two more divisions, two area commands and several observation posts. These are moves to get closer to the people, to have better assessment and understanding of the peculiar security situation at the local levels and for more results-oriented operational planning,” the commandant noted.