By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Delta State Command said, it is ready to provide adequate security for schools in the state. The Command made this known through the Delta State Commandant, NSDC, Akinsariya Iskilu Abiodun when he paid visit to the Delta State Commissioner for education in Asaba, the state capital
Commandant Akinsanya said, it is the sole responsibilities of the agency to protect all government Critical National Assets and Infrastructure which encompass schools among others saying, they all lie within jurisdiction of the NSCDC as enshrined in section 3 subsection 1,2 and 3 of the NSCDC act of 2007 as amended.
Commandant Akinsanya who was represented by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Emaka Peters Okwenchime said the Agency has garnered everything it takes to protect lives and property and to defend the defenceless through constant training and retraining, drills, workshops, seminars, symposia among others and therefore assured all schools in the state of the command’s readiness to provide and ensure adequate security and protection of all schools in Delta State.
In his response, the Commissioner for Education who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Oworo Augustine stressed the importance of safety, security and the protection of schools as it would help to forestall any attempt of breakdown of law and order in schools across the state.
He emphasized the need to partner and synergize with security agencies particularly the NSCDC which has the legitimate jurisdiction over schools in terms of security and saddled with the responsibilities of protection of government’s critical national assets and Infrastructure in country. The Commissioner for Education therefore commended NSCDC’ Commissioner saying, the agency has lived and achieved beyond expectations and therefore promised to convey the message to the right channel for its operational take off.
It should be emphasized that, the Safe School Initiative Programme is one of the proactive steps taken by the President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration to ensure safety and security of our schools’ facilities, students and teachers. It was a pet project of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Abubakar Audi Ahmed PhD mni before it was adopted by the federal government.