The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Commandant Michael Besong Ogar has reiterated the commitment of the Command to fighting to a stand still the menace of oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products across the State.
Ogar made this call while responding to the allegations channelled in a petition directed to the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja which titled: “Demand for the Deployment of Mr Michael Besong Ogar, NSCDC Commandant from Rivers State for failing to perform his duties, abuse of office, embarrassing the NSCDC, Casting the Country’s Image in bad light before International Community by chasing foreign guest out of his office, continuous frustration of Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. approved campaign against crude oil theft, artisanal refineries and environmental management efforts in Rivers State”.
The Rivers State Commandant relayed that there are Standard Operating Procedures guiding the Corps dealings with the International Community and Agencies which actually informed his decision that the Complainant- Mr Fyneface Dumnamene of the Advocacy Center should get a clearance letter from the NSCDC National Headquarters before he could grant the Interview.
Commandant Ogar said a letter was also written to this effect and sent to the official email of the foreign researchers. This was with the view of having enough time to prepare the necessary materials, records and documents needed for an exclusive interview on the achievements and successes of the Command in combating illegal oil bunkering activities, oil theft , arrests of those operating local refineries leading to environmental degradation, air and water pollution and other health hazards in the State.
He maintained that the Executive Director of the Advocacy Center and the Foreign Journalists were not in any way prevented from having access to his office neither were there any intension to embarrass or obstruct their interview process. He however noted that they were politely informed that there would be need for them to get official clearance from the Corps National Headquarters in Abuja before details of arrests of suspects, convictions and forfeitures could be made available for public consumption by the Rivers State Command. .
“Let me further affirm that the Command is a Public environment and my office is open to everyone except there are exigencies of duty or emergencies beyond our control; there is no way a visitor would come to my office and would be denied access. The office of the Rivers NSCDC State Commandant is open to the public and under my watch, the command has partnered with State Government, Sister Security Agencies, Civil Society Organization, Non Governmental Organization, Faith Based and Traditional Institutions which has enhanced the fight against oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products in Rivers State.
“In addition the general public is free to find out and assess the successes and achievements of the Command within my Ten (10) months assumption of office. These are very evidential and visibly published on social media and press statements. It is also expedient to state that within July,2022 to date; the command has made 180 arrests in which 389 suspects were involved; we have secured 26 convictions with 41 number of convicts while 40 exhibits which includes: Cars, Boats, Trucks and Petroleum products have been forfeited and proceeds remitted into federal government coffers”.
The NSCDC Rivers State Command is by this statement extending a hand of fellowship, partnership and collaborations to well meaning Nigerians and most especially the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Center (YEAC-Nigeria and United Kingdom) inorder to enhance the fulfilment of our Corps mandate and the collective fight to rid our nation from crude oil theft, environmental mismanagement and pollution.
” On behalf of the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR; I wish to extend a hand of fellowship to all well meaning Nigerians and most especially the YEAC-Nigeria and United Kingdom; we believe that our mutual interaction and collaborations would definitely enhance positivity and effective service delivery in the fulfilment of the statutory duties of the Corps and the economic growth of the nation”.
SIGNED:
DSC OLUFEMI AYODELE, MCAI ANIPR.
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
NSCDC RIVERS STATE COMMAND.
