The Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi has directed all state commandants, provosts of colleges and heads of various formations to be on red alert and to ensure the protection of all critical infrastructure and assets across the country.
He said the directive became imperative in view of the proposed nationwide protest, noting that NSCDC with its core mandate of protection of critical infrastructure and national assets would not allow any act of violence, disruption of peace, law and order, destruction of properties, looting, vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure amongst others.
Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the CG has ordered watertight security around government facilities nationwide.
Audi said NSCDC under his watch is wholly committed to the protection of oil pipelines, electrical power installations, communication equipment, railway gadgets, the Safe Schools Initiative and all utilities provided by the government for the comfortability of the masses and public consumption.
He noted that any act of destruction or vandalism of these critical assets and infrastructure would have a debilitating effect on the economy of the nation and the Corps having upscaled her intelligence and operational mechanism is ready to combat any attack against the government infrastructure.
“The NSCDC is a Federal Government Paramilitary Agency with statutory roles and responsibilities even as we remain the lead agency in the protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure across the nation.
“Consequently, I have directed all State Commandants, Provosts of Colleges and Heads of various formations to be on red alert ensuring that the protection of all critical Infrastructure and assets are taken very seriously”.
“Our commitment to the protection of lives and property of the Nigerian people is a sine qua non and we will not fold our arms and allow some fifth columnists to instigate Nigerians and its youth against the Federal Government under the pretence of staging demonstration or protests.
“Notably, the present economic hardship is not limited to Nigeria alone; it is a global phenomenon that nations of the world are facing serious and critical economic downturn including inflation and food supply shortages occasioned by climatic and environmental changes and other factors which the government in power is making concerted efforts to resolve while ameliorating the pains of the people,” he stated.
The NSCDC boss, however, warned the Nigerian youth to refrain from being used by faceless and anti-government individuals who have other sinister reasons and ulterior motives for calling for such protests.
He called for cooperation and patience with the government through dialogue, a sense of purpose and non-violent engagement protocols.
Audi further advised the student bodies across the nation to rethink and take advantage of the student loan scheme which attracts no interest and is meant to help Nigerian youths achieve their quest for both formal education and vocational training.
“While we wish to acknowledge the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens to hold peaceful protests; It has been clearly proved and indicators have shown that the proposed protests may be hijacked by desperate criminals and non-state actors.
“Based on the foregoing the NSCDC and other security agencies are working in synergy to ensure that there are no breakdown of law and order, state of anarchy, pandemonium, vandalism, robbery or breach of public peace.
“The NSCDC is hereby using this medium to advise the Youths and intending protesters, Civil Society Organizations, NGO’s and CBO’s to shun all ill-motivated protests. While those clamouring for nationwide protests should be objective, civil and constructive in seeking the attention of the government through a peaceful channel,” the statement added.
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