The Lagos State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), on Thursday reassures Lagosians of its commitment towards ensuring peaceful and conducive atmosphere for Saturday’s national elections.
The NSCDC, Lagos State Commandant, Commandant of Corps Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, also promised to ensure the exercise is devoid of crimes and criminalities that could lead to the break down of law and order or the vandalization of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) in the state.
We are working in synergy with INEC, NPF, other security agencies, the media an all relevant institutions and stakeholders involved, in the electioneering process in Lagos state,” Alfadarai said.
He said the Command has deployed a total of 3,640 officers and men to the various strategic fields; such as the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), collation centres, various polling units, locations and points across the state .
A statement by the spokesperson of the Command, Abolurin Oluwaseun said the Command is also not resting on its oars, in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure such as; oil and gas pipelines, telecommunication, railway installations and power installations, buildings and offices, amidst many others belonging to the Federal, State and Local Governments.
The above tactical deployments were being drawn, from various departments and units, such as; Operation, Intelligence and Investigation, Anti – Vandal, Armed Squad, CNAI, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives ( CBRNE ) Unit, Area Commands and Divisions, Quick Intervention Squad ( QIS ), Special Female Squad ( SFS ), Agro – Rangers, Crisis and Disaster Management, Counter – Terrorism, Peace and Conflict Management and Anti – Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration Unit, ( ATHIMU ) et ce tera.
Abolurin said the State Command has trained its personnel on election monitoring and security, through several workshops organized by INEC and other relevant local and international bodies saddled with the peaceful conduct of the process.
“Therefore, the personnel will bring all these electoral principles and knowledge, in tandem with international best practices to bear in their conduct and practice during and after the elections,” he said.
In the same vein, some delegates of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) also visited the office of the State Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command.
The team included Mrs Zainab Unu Moseray, Mrs Olga Frivazovska from Ukraine and Mr Bamidele Ojuyenum. The team requested to know about the preparedness of the Corps towards the elections in delivering quality security services during and after the process.
The observer team of IRI and NDI was received by Deputy Commandant of Corps Sulaiman Oloyede, in charge of Intelligence and investigation, Superintendent of Corps Aliyu Jamilu and Deputy Superintendent of Corps, Abolurin Oluwaseun, Command’s Public Relations Officer.
Alfadarai also seized the opportunity of the visit to assure the visiting observer team of the Command’s readiness to ensure the smooth conduct of the election, through media sensitization of the public, regular meetings with stakeholders, coordination with the lead agency in election security, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security ( ICCES ), chaired by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and co – chaired by the Commissioner of Police in the state.
“We are working in synergy, with INEC, NPF, other security agencies, the media and all relevant institutions and stakeholders involved, in the electioneering process, with respect for human rights and privileges of all citizens, accredited voters and the good people of the state during the entire process, from accreditation, to voting, collation of results and post election security,” Alfadarai said.
