By Benjamin Jimmy
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Akwa Ibom State Command, has been rated high by Human Rights Group for its performance in protecting critical national infrastructure in the state and maintaining a good civil relations with members of the public.
Saviour Akpan, Esq., who is the Akwa Ibom State Cluster Lead, handed down the rating during a visit to the head, Department of Private Guard Companies, PGC, of the command, Assistant Commandant E. E. Peters.
Explaining the reason for his visit, Akpan told Asst. Commandant Peters that it was occasioned by the study he was carrying out on Civil Society Organizations’ Monitoring and Assessment of Private Security Services during the 2023 general elections, as part of the project being implemented by African Law Foundation, AFRILAW, Abuja, in collaboration with the NSCDC, Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Switzerland, and International Code of Conduct Association, ICOCA, Switzerland.
He disclosed that as a Cluster Lead for Akwa Ibom State which monitors and regularly interfaces with security agencies in the state in particular, and the country by extension, he had closely followed the activities of the state command for years now, especially the leadership of the current State Commandant, Yusuf Adam Imam, and he was therefore better placed to rate the command high in its performance and proactive responses to civil and criminal misdemeanours in the state.
The Human Rights Activist who particularly lauded Asst. Commandant Peters for his innovations and training programmes for Private Guard Companies in the state which he noted had upscaled their performance in recent times, said he was not surprised about Asst. Commandant Peters’ achievements as the head of PGC Department, NSCDC, Akwa Ibom State Command, owing to his sterling qualities in civil relations.
” I’m particularly happy with your performance as the head, Department of Private Guard Companies, NSCDC, Akwa Ibom State Command. Your exceptionality and dynamism in the Corps have really made the state proud. This is the second time I’m meeting with you, but I have heard a lot of innovations and programmes you have introduced in your department.
“Whenever I introduce myself in meetings where you have CSOs and others in Abuja as an Akwa Ibom person, people would shout: Peter person! Peter person! This shows how exceptional and impactful your services have been on PGCs and the NSCDC.
” Therefore, I want to encourage you to keep innovating for your department and the command. Your good works will one day speak for you”.
In a-stop-over visit to the State Commandant of NSCDC, Yusuf Imam, Akpan who disclosed his reason for his visit, commended the State Commandant for putting the welfare of his officers and men in the front burner.
He therefore, observed that this deliberate prioritization of the welfare of officers and men of the Command had contributed to the success the NSCDC in the state has recorded in last few years, urging the State Commandant not to relent in that regard.
Responding, the State Commandant thanked Saviour Akpan for reposing confidence in his leadership as the number one officer of Akwa Ibom State Command of NSCDC.
Earlier in his speech, the head, Department of Private Guard Companies, Asst. Commandant Peters, appreciated the Akwa Ibom State Lead for the collaboration which he noted would bring about improvement in the operations of the department in relation to PGC in the state.
He however urged the group to seek ways of collaborating with NSCDC to solve some of the challenges inhibiting the smooth running of PGC in Akwa Ibom State in particular and the country in general.
The challenges, according to him, include; streamlining of the uniforms of private guard companies down to two; regular training programmes for private guards; more recognition of the functions and duties of PGC in the Nigerian state, among others.
He therefore, expressed optimism that addressing these challenges would upscale the activities of all the Private Guard Companies in Nigeria, in line with global standards and best practices.
