THE Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Micheal Ogar, has been removed over a disagreement with members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Ogar’s removal was ordered by NSCDC, Commandant General (CG), of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
This was stated on Thursday by Commandant Olusola Odumosu, the spokesman of the Corps, who added that Ogar should hand over the affairs of the Command to his Deputy, pending the deployment of a substantive State Commandant.
According to the statement, a thorough investigation panel has been commenced by the CG to look into the circumstances leading to the blockage of the entrance of the Rivers State Command of the NSCDC, located at Olu Obasanjo way, GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday.
The committee, led by the DCG in charge of Operations, Dauda Mungadi, will conduct an objective investigation of the State Commandant’s and members of the command Anti-vandal team’s roles in the situation.
Angry petroleum tanker drivers barricaded the entrance gate to the NSCDC Command in Port Harcourt in the early hours of Wednesday.
The tanker drivers were requesting the release of four of their vehicles, which had been impounded by command authorities in August of last year.
One of the protesting drivers, Gift Nmadu, was quoted by Daily Trust saying: “The trucks had genuine clearance from the PPMC depot and the drivers concerned showed them all the papers but they went ahead to confiscate the trucks. We are here to press home our demand that they should release the trucks.”
The NSCDC CG, on the other hand, expressed surprise at NUPENG’s actions, stating they depicted a shocking picture and an unnecessary contrast to the Corps’ objectives.
Dr. Audi stated that any breach of confidence or perceived compromise by any personnel will not be tolerated.
He said: “I have constituted a high-powered committee to carry out a full-scale investigation into the incident in Port Harcourt.
“Nigerians are fully aware that we are the lead agency in the protection of critical government assets and infrastructure.
“Therefore, under my watch, no act of indiscipline, compromise, or sabotage would be condoned from anyone within and outside the Corps.
“I have given the committee a marching order to ascertain the role played by either of the parties and anyone found guilty would be severely dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
The CG recently invited Niger Delta State Commandants to Abuja to lecture them on the importance of reorganizing their anti-vandal units in accordance with Mr President’s instruction to curb oil theft and other criminal activities in the sector.
He expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to conduct an unbiased investigation and urged members of the public and all interested parties to await the findings and any suggestions.
The CG stated that the NSCDC will continue to clean up the oil industry by fighting oil thieves and illicit oil bunkers that are damaging the nation’s economy.
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