The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, Says the NSCDC is highly delighted to collaborate with the State of Israel as they have all it takes to assist and support the Corps to attain greater heights both now and in the future.
The CG made this notable position known during the courtesy visit of NALAV GOVEN Deputy Head of Mission, The Embassy of Israel, to the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja, where he revealed that the Corps yesterday in the South South region destroyed 40 illegal refineries.
In his remark, Goven pointed out that Israel as a Nation has a population of 8 million people, and due to the arid location they found themselves they were faced with two challenges which were firstly, on how to feed the population of Israel and secondly, Defence issue.
Goven maintained that they looked into their challenges and turned it into opportunities which have made Israel the Nation it is today.
The Deputy Chief of Mission revealed that Israel embraced Technology in the areas of Agriculture and Defence, and were able to achieve these feats of transforming Israel, as the Government in turn embraced the Private Sector and worked together with them, and both tackled all issues in the State of Israel holistically and their consistency has made Israel a great nation today.
Nalav also highlighted that in the area of Cyber Security, Israel took note that it is a challenge of the future, and are building a Cyber City in the southern part of the country where higher institutions of learning and defence have been relocated to achieve the purpose of defeating cyber crimes both now and in the future.
He disclosed that the Ambassador of Israel has already met with the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd.), and invited him and his would-be entourage to Israel in a conference that will hold between the 14 – 18 November, 2016 in the State of Israel.
The Deputy Head of Mission requested that the CG should also be in attendance at the conference, that while at the Government level the different Governments will hold their deliberations, while also at the sidelines, the Government Agencies, especially the NSCDC collaboration with Israel will be fully addressed and he believes the outcome is positive.
The Commandant General thanked the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Israel for the visit.
Gana noted, that the Corps is the sole Agency of Government that is responsible for the protection of Critical Infrastructure and National Assets in Nigeria, these entails the protection of electricity facilities, the railway lines, Dams, the Mining Sites, Agriculture facilities, oil pipelines, water pipelines, communication masts spread across the country, and asserted that the NSCDC has lived up to expectation in the discharge of these functions.
The Corps helmsman revealed that the Private Guard Company being regulated by the NSCDC has been undergoing reforms for 10years now, and happily pointed out that the Corps has thoroughly sanitized the PGC to an enviable status today as we speak.
Gana who passionately spoke on Disaster Management, posited with joy that today, the NSCDC notwithstanding that the Corps has less than 60,000 Personnel nationwide have 10,000 Personnel in the Disaster Management Department alone, maintaining that all over the world the Civil Defence is noted for the key functioning in Disaster Management of both Man-made and Natural disasters.
The Leader of the Civil Defence said, “ I really appreciate and thank the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), for signing into Law the NSCDC Act which has really made great positive impact in Nigeria . As at today, in the North East, in Dikwa and Barma, only the Civil Defence Personnel are there presently manning the liberated areas by the Military where the IDPs are also quartered for protection and safety. Positing that as the Gallant Military has won the war , so the Civil Defence will win the Peace.
I must let you know that the NSCDC is really working hard round the clock in the area of Disaster Management in Nigeria, and I am very glad we are succeeding on daily basis. ”
Gana asserted that the NSCDC is really desirous to collaborate with the State of Israel in two key areas. Firstly, that the Corps is in need of working facilities to aid the duties of the Personnel to achieve optimal result always.
And secondly, Capacity Building of the Personnel of the Corps and passionately requested for slots to enable him train his personnel to his desired hope, as some Personnel are already in the Republic of China for Capacity Building.
The Commandant General seized the opportunity again to thank the Federal Government for the Allocation to the NSCDC, and requested for the recruitment of more Personnel to swell the ranks of the Corps to achieve positively more for Nigeria.
ACC EMMANUEL OKEH
CDPRO