Ogun State House of Assembly has challenged the State command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) to sustain its collaboration with all local security outfits in the State including the Amotekun Corps, So Safe Corps, Vigilante Service and Hunters Association.
This according to the Assembly, will ensure effective security network, protection of physical infrastructure, farmlands and properties of the residents of the State.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide threw the challenge on Tuesday, while playing host to the new Commandant of the Corps in the State, Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo, during a courtesy call on the State lawmakers at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.
Speaker Elemide stated that effective collaboration with all relevant local security outfits in the State would assist the Corps to achieve its mandate of securing critical national assets and other security concerns.
He assured the Corps of the Assembly’s collaboration in the provision of necessary tools through advocacy, promising that the State lawmakers will give the needed support to the Corp in other to achieve success in securing farmlands across the State.
In their contributions, the Deputy Speaker, Assemblywoman Bolanle Ajayi, Minority Leader Assemblyman Lukman Adeleye, the Deputy Chief Whip, Babatunde Tella and Assemblyman Waliu Owode, requested for the deployment of more Civil Defence Corps to the rural areas, especially for the protection of farmers and their farmlands as well as other critical infrastructure.
They lauded the NSCDC for the creation of the Agro- Ranger Unit within the Corps to protect farmers and farmlands across the country and help in addressing perennial crisis between herders and farmers.
Earlier in her presentation, Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo, lauded the State Legislature for its role in using legislative instruments to make the State relatively peaceful in collaboration with the other arms of government.
She noted that the Corps will continue to perform its core functions of protecting national assets and infrastructure, as well as the protection of lives and property, including the creation of another unit (Agro- Ranger) meant for the protection of farmers and farmlands from hoodlums, bandits and wandering herds.
The Commandant added that aside counter terrorism and anti- vandals sections of the Corps, the NSCDC also launched the Female Squad to man schools and protect school children from kidnapers in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education.
While commending the State government for its support to the Corps, she requested more support for the NSCDC to enhance its efficiency in the State.
