The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has restated its commitment to protect the Nigerian economy even as insecurity tops the chart among current issues of national concern.

This was stated on Monday March 1, 2021, during activities marking this year’s world Civil Defence Day, with the theme: 'Strong Civil Protection to Protect National Economy,' as the Nigerian chapter joined member-nations of the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) world over to mark the 90th anniversary of the para-military outfit founded in 1931 in France.

Assistant Superintendent of Corps, Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who delivered the speech on behalf of the State NSCDC boss, Commandant Ayeni Paul Kolawole, disclosed this at a seminar in Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the organisation’s decades of service to humanity.

The second-in-command, Deputy Commandant Obimma Fredrick Chukwuma, presided over the celebration activities in Lagos State, including the seminar/workshop where various department and unit heads gave account of their services and strategies of operations in the state.

Affirming the role of the Civil Defence in confronting the surge of insecurity in the country, the NSCDC Commandant recalled the objectives of the ICDO, which he stated as, first, “to promote the creation of safety zones” and secondly, “to protect vulnerable populations and historic movements in times of war.”

He explained that the foregoing objectives account for the presence of the Civil Defence in crisis and disaster zones nationwide as an active and committed para-military organization, adding: “ICDO is dedicated to the protection of civilian populations and property and the environments against disasters of nature and man-made origin.”

He said the Nigerian chapter was founded in June 1967 and “in 2003 it was regularised as a full-fledge para-military organisation with statutory backing passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, the former president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic.”

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