NSCDC re-strategizes for elections, sets up situation room

Ukpono Ukpong, Lagos

Following the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu, has restated the Corps readiness to guarantee credible and hitch free election through effective security coverage. He made this known while commending the Management Staff and the Corps personnel on their swift compliance with the deployment order before the election was rescheduled. While stating that he was satisfied with the commitment, selflessness and determination of the Deputy Commandant Generals and Assistant Commandant Generals deployed to the six geo-political zones to head the election monitoring team set up by the Commandant General as well as the reshuffled State Commandants. He charged the officers to continue to be law abiding and be dutifully committed to the service of the nation by providing adequate security before, during and after the polls. He admonished them to maintain high level of civility and diplomacy while dealing with the civil populace by reassuring them of their safety, as the presence of security personnel around polling stations is to maintain peace, law and order and not for intimidation. The Corps Chief Executive seized the opportunity to brief the personnel on the need for feedback and situation report from the field to the situation room set up at the Corps National Headquarters via the various numbers to be contacted in case of emergency: 08036171885, 07030647190, 08036223627, 08034984016, 08033711199. Speaking further, he urged the personnel and the general public to feel free to call the numbers in case of any complaints and challenges encountered in the field for prompt action. He encouraged the electorates not to disenfranchise themselves but to ensure that they vote for the candidate of their choice without fear of molestation, harassment and embarrassment. However, he warned those intending to disrupt the electioneering processes through act of thuggery, ballot box snatching, hate speeches, campaign of calumny to desist as the law is no respecter of anyone.