The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC Lagos Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Douglas Okoro has urged the civil populace to timely channel whatsoever genuine grievances they may have through the security agencies and other relevant government agencies.
In a press statement e-signed and released to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP by the Command’s Spokesperson, ASCI Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide stated that, “The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Edenabu Douglas Okoro, msc, acma, cna, today, Thursday, 28th April, 2022, made a clarion call to Nigerians, during a conference, organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism(WSCIJ), under the Civic Space Guard Project of the centre, with the theme ‘Hushed voices and the media’s defence of the civic space.’
According to the statement, “The Commandant, who spoke through the command’s Public Relations Officer(PRO), Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASCI) Abolurin Oluwaseun Olumide at the conference, called on the civil populace to timely, channel whatsoever genuine grievances they may have through the security agencies and other relevant government agencies, in a bid to avoid needless or avoidable security breaches and economic sabotages by criminals or miscreants, who often times seize such opportunity to turn viable and peaceful civic spaces into a criminal hub, in a bid to perpetrate their criminal activity and bring complex imbroglio to the state or nation.”
The Civil Defence PRO, intervened by saying, “civility, safety, attitudinal change and intellectualism, amongst others are the tools needed to ensure a free and safe civic space, in our dear nation, Nigeria.”
He opined that above all interests, Nigeria should be first and caution about the safety of our dear citizens should not be thrown to the wild wind.
The event, which was moderated by a seasoned journalist, Bukola Samuel – Wemimo, also featured emphatic and realistic statements from the Executive Director / CEO, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka and the following panelists; Superintendent of Police (SP) Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos Police Command, Debo Adedayo, popularly known as ‘Mr Macaroni,’ Inibehe Effiong, Principal Counsel Inibehe Effiong Chambers, Olukunle Akinrinade, Head, Weekend Crime Desk, The Nation Newspaper, Victoria Ibezim – Ohaeri, Executive Director Spaces for Change as well as SP Matilda Umiha Ngbaronye, Divisional Officer, Ilupeju Police Station and Juliana Francis, the Programme Manager, WSCIJ.
Finally, the take home from the event by Juliana Francis, who gave the closing remarks was that the protection of the civic spaces is our collective responsibility.
In the same vein, the Civil Defence PRO and the Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Adebimpe Bada, also represented the command, in another significant event, organised by the British Council and the Rule of Law and Anti – Corruption RoLAC Program today.
The event, which also had representatives from the Police, the civil society, the school of the blind and other relevant stakeholders was organised, in a bid to draft policies and excerpts to help persons with disabilities amongst others.
