The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has ordered Commandants of the Niger Delta States to reinvent their Anti-vandal units for greater efficiency as they look to arrest oil theft and vandalism of critical national assets.
Dr. Audi, who gave the charge during a meeting with the State Commandants in Abuja, demanded full compliance just as he urged them to go the whole hog so as to make the nation uninhabitable for criminals.
A Press Statement by the Director, Public Relations, Olusola Odumosu has revealed.
According to the Statement, the NSCDC Boss reminded the concerned Commandants of the dire consequences of indulging in economic sabotage, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared zero tolerance for crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, and other frivolous dealings in petroleum products.
“This meeting became necessary to convey President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the absolute need to end all sharp practices in the nation’s oil sector.
“Oil remains the mainstay of our economy, you must therefore rejig your Anti-vandal Units to end the problem of oil theft in compliance with Federal Government’s directives.
“We have a duty to protect our oil and gas sectors from vandalism and prevent illegal bunkerers from destroying our oil installations, infrastructure and earnings” the CG stressed.
Dr Audi charged the State Commandants to maintain 24 hours surveillance of the oil facilities across the country, work with host communities and gather enough credible information and intelligence to checkmate the menace.
He emphasised the need for safe keeping of all exhibits, security of exhibits centres and strict adherence to the code of ethics and standard operating procedure of the Corps.
The Corps helmsman warned that his administration will not condone any compromise or unethical conducts from any command or personnel, promising to hold any State Commandant accountable for oil theft, acts of indiscipline, breakdown of law and order in their domains.
“As the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, there is a need to be determined and reselient in the fight against crude oil theft.
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already changing the narrative for good and we cannot afford to let the President and the entire nation down, the CG assured.
Furthermore, he re-emphasized the need for collaborative efforts with other security agencies as well as critical stakeholders with a view to stamping out crude oil theft.
