By Chukwudi Enekwechi
“We keep moving forward opening new doors, and doing new things, because we are curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths” Walt Disney.
The commandant general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammad is a man of action whose passion for the job and security of every Nigerian cannot be over-emphasized. The late charismatic champion of all times, Muhammad Ali must have had the DG in mind when he said, “service to others is the rent you pay your room here on earth” because this is exactly what the NSCDC is doing.
Here are some quotes credited to Abdullahi Gana Muhammad in the course of doing what he knows best; service to humanity.
NSCDC to engage private security in intelligence gathering: “The corps (NSCDC) has re-strategized in working on ways to further develop the capacity of the private guard operators to also function in the area of intelligence gathering to assist in solving some of the knotty security issues around us”.
On the need to send NSCDC corps to dams: “The minister of agriculture met my Hon. Minister and said, “They are proposing the creation of ranches all over the country and they will need my men (corps) to protect the ranches and the farmers too…We are also talking with the minster of water resources on the need to protect all our dams. Already we have deployed our men to man the 180 dams across the country.
On the just concluded Ondo 2016 guber election: “I call on all politicians in Ondo state to know that achieving victory is not a do or die affairs as victory comes from God alone. The winners should accept it in humility, while the losers should accept defeat in good faith”.
NSCDC reservoir of prolific athletes: “The corps (NSCDC) remains the hub in choosing sports men and women in Nigeria and I call on the ministry of youth and sports not to look elsewhere, but to simply visit our office to make requisition for the corps hardware”.
NSCDC boss commending the effort of his officers and men: “The pro-activeness of the corps anti-vandals squad in the Niger Delta area and other oil communities based on intelligence report, aided in the clamping down of the illegal activities of the suspects that brought about the feat”.
Shun misconduct or risk exposure, C.G warns officers: “All officers and men should strive to comply and adhere strictly to the provision of NSCDC’s condition of service and public service rules. Any officer involved in acts of misconduct vis a vis financial embarrassment will be exposed and sanctioned, in line with the condition of service and provisions of the public service rules”.
Any officer who compromises with vandals: If caught or arrested will face the appropriate disciplinary action and if found guilty will be dismissed from the service and those engaged in job racketeering which has greatly affected the image of the corps will equally be shown the way out of the service”.
Civil Defence to recruit 100,000 personnel: “We have made request to the Federal Government that for us to meet up with this requirement, we will need to beef up our personnel and we are looking at the possibility of recruiting one hundred thousand personnel (100,000)
We are facing more and more challenges on daily basis: “Some months ago, we had a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals where the minster said that, they will be requiring 5,000 personnel in line with the Federal government decision to diversify the economy”.
No hidden place for vandals: “There is no hidden place for vandals and economic saboteurs as the corps is poised to pursue its mandate to the letter.
NSCDC to pay arrears before December 2016: “Among the agencies under the ministry of interior, the NSCDC has the least budgetary allocation and also the least budgetary allocation released. Up till now, the promoted officers and men in the corps (NSCDC) have not been paid their promotion arrears and new salaries … I trust that from now and before year runs out, all these arrears will be paid to all personnel affected although these promotion arrears were not built into the 2016 budget”.
It would be appropriate to end this piece with the quote from Napoleon Hill who says, “Dare to grow into your dreams and claims this as your motto: and let it be me.”
Ibrahim wrote from Abuja