Public Relations has been identified as a veritable tool in fostering goodwill and mutual relationship between security agencies and the public they serve.
The State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State, Dennis Lesor Reuben, stated this recently when the Executive Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Port Harcourt.
He noted that partnership between both organizations will enable the public understand the core duties of the Corps, which includes ensuring security of lives and property and fostering peace and conflict resolution in civil matters.
Reuben said: “The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps is empowered to arrest, detain, investigate and prosecute in the name of the Attorney General of the federation anybody involved or suspected to be involved in any criminal matter.
“Section 3 subsection U and V further gives us plus one. That plus one is that we have power to mediate between two willing members of the public that have issues.
“This means the Civil defense can mediate any civil matter and we have a unit for that, the peace and conflict resolution. So, tell the public.”
He observed that most members of the public are unaware of the aspect of peace and conflict resolution of the Corps in order to take advantage of it in resolving civil matters.
Earlier, Chairman of NIPR Rivers State, Rev. Francis Asuk, said the purpose of the visit was to seek for partnership and area of collaboration with the commandant who recently assumed duties in Rivers State, and to explore areas of capacity building for the officers and men of the Corps as they need public relations skills in carrying out their duties.
Represented by the Vice Chairman of the Chapter, Dr. Parry Saroh Benson, he asked that members of the Corps, especially those in the Public Relations unit, be allowed to identify and regularise their membership with the institute so they would get the requisite training and knowledge.
He also extended an invitation to the Commandant to the upcoming World Public Relations Conference which would hold in Abuja in November 2026, where public relations professionals from over 126 countries would be in Nigeria to chart a new course for Public Relations practice.
An invitation was also extended to the NSCDC to the upcoming Rivers Pubic Relations Week billed to hold from 7th- 9th October 2026.

The NSCDC boss pledged his support to the programmes and activities of the NIPR in the State and presented the enabling Act and other literature about the NSCDC.
Corps Commandant Dennis Lesor Reuben is from Baen Town in Khana LGA, Rivers State and has a PhD in Human and Personnel Management.
He has served in 16 states across Nigeria in various capacities before assuming duty as the Corps Commandant at the Rivers State Command on 11th June, 2026.
He is also an author of many books on security issues and contributed to many scholarly journals.

The power of Attorney in respect of royalties, benefits and freedom to operate oil benefits by Belema Community in Akuku Toru Local Government Area has been declared as its exclusive rights.
Amanyanabo of Belema Community, His Highness, Dr. Ayanate Kio, Ala Igbaniye OkoTubo 1, and chiefs of the oil bearing community have, therefore, urged oil firms, companies and government agencies to deal directly with it and not with any representative who claim rights of attorney over the area.
To this end, the community urged oil firms: Belemaoil Producing Limited, Donna Spectre Limited, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, and Newcross Exploration and Production Limited to jettison any agreement it entered on behalf of it.
The Amanyanabo and the chiefs of Belema Community further declared as null and avoid a purported Power of Attorney allegedly executed on 16th June 2026 with HRH Kroma Amabibi Eleki Sara XIV and Chief Wapakabuari Alaye Egbelekuro as donors in favour of Ekulama Flame Nigeria Limited.
While addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt over attempts by some persons claiming power of attorney, HRH, Dr. Kio said the community is autonomous and has been recognised since 1993 to have powers to manage its affairs.
The royal father stated that purported power of attorney allegedly executed on 16th June by HRH Kroma Amabibi Eleki Sara XIv and Chief Wapakabuari Egbelekuro in favour of Ekulama Flame Nigeria Limited is not binding on Belema Community and its satellite settlements.
As far as they were concerned, it’s only the king, chiefs and those appointed by the community that can enter agreements with oil firms, contractors and government, hence any other parties are not endorsed by them.
He said, “…this serves as a formal notice and demand that Ekulama Flame Nigeria Limited or any other bodies or companies immediately exclude Belema Community from the scope and operation of the purpoted power of attorney and desist from representing it to any person or authority.”
The royal father recalled that Belema Community duly installed her monarch since December 2025, which has not been under contest and wondered why persons not authorized should exercise such legal rights on the area.
“We, therefore, place all concerned companies and stakeholders, including Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Newscross Exploration and Production Limited, Belemaoil Producing ma Community must be conducted only with the lawful leadership”, he declared.

Limited, Donna Spectre government agencies and contractors on notice that any dealings affecting Belema Community must be conducted only with the lawful leadership”, he declared.
The Amanyanabo of Belema further noted that any clause in the purpoted power of attorney to authorize Ekulama Flame Nigeria Limited or any body in the future to negotiate on behalf of the community for benefits and proceeds is null and void.
Another royal father, who condemned the action of the proxies, His Highness Wriboko Olali Mboko, said Belema Community remains united with its Amanyanabo to ensure that her rights and privileges are accorded her.
On his part, a member of the Belema Council of Cheifs, Chief Dasiesima Mure, said the autonomy of the community remains sacrosanct when it comes to its resources and rights, stressing that enemies of the community will fail in their attempt to cause disaffection.

The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) has denied influencing the selection of 40 Ogoni beneficiaries of employment opportunities at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saying it had no role in the recruitment process.
The committee, which is engaging the Federal Government on the possible resumption of oil and gas operations in Ogoniland, also denied allegations that it awarded contracts or received funds from the Federal Government.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the ODC Chairman, Prof. Don Baridam, described the statements attributed to KAGOTE and other groups as false and misleading.
He said the employment opportunities were among the confidence-building measures proposed by the Ogoni delegation to the Federal Government but stressed that the ODC neither selected nor recruited the beneficiaries.
According to him, NNPCL drew the successful candidates from a pool of qualified Ogoni applicants already in its recruitment database, rather than from nominations made by the committee.
“When the issue of employment was raised, NNPCL made it clear that it would not compromise its established professional and recruitment standards.
“The company informed us that it already had in its recruitment database several qualified Ogoni sons and daughters who had previously applied, undergone its recruitment processes and performed well”, he said.
He acknowledged that some ODC members submitted names of persons they wanted considered, but they said those nominations did not determine the outcome.
“The recruitment and selection process did not pass through the ODC, nor did the ODC determine who was employed.
“The suggestions that the committee or its facilitators distributed the jobs as patronage were false”, Baridam stated.
The ODC also dismissed claims that it was involved in the award or allocation of government and NNPCL contracts.
Baridam explained that contract awards were outside the committee’s mandate and that it lacked the authority or machinery to influence such decisions.
“At no time did the ODC award, allocate, distribute or otherwise become involved in contracts”, he said.
On reports of renewed oil activities in Ogoniland, the committee said it had no information indicating that oil and gas production had resumed under the Ogoni re-entry programme, adding that NNPCL had said it was unaware of the alleged oil-rig operations, although investigations into the reported activities in Alesa-Eleme were ongoing.
The committee also denied receiving any budget, grant or other funds from the Federal Government, describing its participation in the dialogue process as a sacrifice and service to the Ogoni people.
On the proposed creation of Bori State, Baridam said state creation remained a key demand presented to the Federal Government.
He said the committee had established a tactical sub-committee to work on the modalities, while acknowledging that the process must follow constitutional procedures.
Baridam said the dialogue process had advanced to efforts to harmonise outstanding issues arising from the ODC report, the Federal Government’s response and the report of a technical committee.
He noted that a Joint Harmonization Committee, comprising representatives of the Federal Government and Ogoni, was being considered to develop an interim memorandum of understanding on areas of agreement.
The ODC appealed to KAGOTE and other Ogoni stakeholders to use available channels for constructive engagement, saying it remained open to contributions that could strengthen the dialogue process and advance peace, environmental restoration and development in Ogoniland.

By: Kiadum Edookor