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NSCDC Expresses Commitment To Anti-Vandalism, Impounds Trucks …Seals Residential Building In Rivers
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General’s Special Anti-Vandal Monitoring Unit (CG’s SAVMU) has expressed commitment to safeguarding all critical national assets and infrastructure across the federation.
While speaking on the achievements of the newly created squad, the Unit Commander, DCC Brah Umoru Samson, said the inauguration of the special squad was not limited to fighting the menace of oil theft and illegal dealings in petroleum products but also to safeguard all critical national assets and infrastructure such as oil pipelines, electrical power installations (armoured cables, transformers), water pipes, telecommunication masts and gadgets as well as all infrastructure that were very critical to the government and the corporate existence of the nation.
Umoru, who spoke through the NSCDC Rivers State Command Public Relations Officer, DSC Olufemi Ayodele, explained that within the week of its inauguration, the unit has been very resolute in the fight against illegal oil bunkering activities which led to impounding of five tankers, of which two were about 33,000 litres capacity, one 40,000 litres, one 45,000 litres and one 15,000 litres capacity of locally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
“The Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in his renewed vigour to combat the menace of illegal dealings in petroleum products across the federation, did inaugurate the CG’s Special Anti-Vandal Monitoring Unit (CG’s SAVMU) to enhance the protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure in the nation.
“The CG’S SAVMU, upon arrival in Rivers State, swung into action, and impounded the trucks at Abuloma, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State. It should be noted that upon sighting the squad, the suspects abandoned the tankers and fled the scene of crime.
“The Rivers State Commandant, Abu Tambuwal, has directed that a thorough investigation be made to apprehend the suspects while the state command will also approach the court after the conclusion of investigation”, he said.
Meanwhile, a residential building converted to dumpsite for illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil also known as diesel or ‘Kpo-fire’ has been sealed by operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State.
Addressing newsmen at the scene of the crime, the NSCDC Commandant, Rivers State Command, Abu Tambuwal, said its anti-vandal squad made the discovery following sustained intelligence.
Tambuwal, who was represented by the command’s Head of Anti-Vandal Squad, JoachinOkafor, said the operatives arrested suspects who were indulging in the act.
He stated, “Based on sustained intelligence, the surveillance team of the Anti-Vandal Squad laid ambush for three days to monitor the activities around the area.
“In consonance with the provisions of Section 3 (l) (ii) of the NSCDC ACT 2003 as amended 2007; I eventually ordered my men to advance into the compound and we later confirmed that the ash colour bungalow building located at IwofeRumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, is being used as a loading point of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil stored in cellophane bags.
“In addition, we saw a black Lexus 330 saloon car with number plate Bayelsa GBB 52EA, a Toyota Avalon gold colour car with registration number Rivers FH 730 PHC laden with some cellophane bags of illegally refined AGO, a boat engine and several bags of AGO stored in cellophane bags scattered within the premises.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate to the general public that the NSCDC, Rivers State Command, will not relent in the fight against oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and all acts of economic sabotage in the state.
“If this unscrupulous act was not uncovered, it could have led to a fire outbreak and the continuous operation of illegal refineries in the area would definitely lead to environmental degradation and pollution of the environment which is hazardous to the health of the good people of Rivers State.”
Tambuwal said the command would carry out detailed investigation to identify those behind the illicit act which he described as economic sabotage.
“The residential building has been sealed and our operatives have cordoned off the area.
“We have also identified a local jetty near the scene of the crime, where illegally refined AGO are being loaded for onward transmission to would-be buyers.
“The command will approach the court with the requisite jurisdiction to make necessary application for the forfeiture of the petroleum products, modes of conveyance and the residential apartment as this unscrupulous act contravenes the provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004, Laws of the Federation,” the commandant said.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.