Operate Professionally or Risk Clampdown, Anambra NSCDC Tells Private Guard Companies

Awka – Private guard companies operating within Anambra State have been directed to ensure that their operating papers are up-to date and the conduct of their personnel, professional.

The Anambra State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Commandant David Bille, who gave the directive on Monday in an exclusive chat with TNC correspondent at the State NSCDC headquarters in Awka, said the Command will not hesitate to seal off any erring companies.

Bille’s directive is coming on the heels of the sealing off of two Private Guards Companies in Onitsha by the Command, in line with the NSCDC Amended Act 2007, empowering it to regulate, monitor and supervise the operation of  Private Guard Companies.

Among the places sealed off for breaching code of conduct governing the operation of Private Guard Companies and for operating without a valid license, were the offices of GLOBE 999 Security LTD located at No 49 Ugwunabankpa Road, Onitsha and USBEST Security LTD located at No.35 Onitsha Owerri Road, Onitsha.

The Anambra NSCDC Boss who noted that the Command has commenced clampdown on private guard offices who have failed to renew their licenses in line with their regulatory specification, said the exercise will be sustained.

“What we want to achieve in keeping with our mandate is professionalism in the conduct and operation of Private Guards Business in Anambra State. That is the essence of the registration and renewal processes- to ensure that these companies operate within the ambits of the law, first for their own good and for the benefit for the citizenry also,” he noted.

Bille said the State Command of the NSCDC has since he assumed office, evolved a number of initiatives through which it is meeting its responsibility of protecting critical public infrastructure across Anambra State.

One of such initiatives he revealed, is heavy deployment of men and officers to such facilities.

“In Anambra, we have maintained adequate security of critical public infrastructure with the support of the state government. Vandalization of government’s infrastructure has been brought to its barest minimum here and that is because our men are always on ground to provide the needed security and intelligence which have been used to foil many planned attacks,” he said.

The state NSCDC boss paid glowing tribute to the security arrangement in the state where all the security agencies are working in synergy under the Joint Security Task Force, initiated by the state government.

According to him, this has eradicated the rancor usually experienced in other climes among the security outfits, which eventually affect the protection of lives and property.

On the issues of crisis management and maintaining the peace, Bille said the Command has the Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit that is on top of their game.

“The point we are at now, is where we are devising strategies to pre-empt conflicts and crisis and nip them in the bud through adequate intelligence. You are aware of the recent Umueri/Aguleri crisis where we deployed promptly and the crisis has been brought under control. Even after that, we will have our men on ground to follow up with the activities of the 15-member committee set up by the state government to look into the matter. What we want to ensure is that such violence does not reoccur,” Bille maintained.

Describing security as everyone’s business, Bille reminded Anambra citizens and residents of their duty to volunteer credible information that will enable security operatives to maintain a crime-free environment in the state.

He assured that the state NSCDC Command will continue to carry out their statutory functions in line with best practices and will not condone any form of untoward action from its staff.

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