Abuja – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it is set to partner the Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to tackle oil spillage.
A statement signed by Emmanuel Okeh, the Corps’ spokesperson, on Friday in Abuja, quoted the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana as saying this when the NOSDRA Director-General, Mr Peter Idabor, paid him a courtesy visit.
Gana, in the statement, expressed concern over the incessant destruction of pipelines and other national assets.
He warned all perpetrators of this crime to desist from such acts or face the full wrath of the law, when caught.
“The mandate of the NSCDC enables the corps, as the core protector of critical infrastructure and national assets, to have under its watch oil pipelines, water pipelines, railway lines, communication masts and a host of other national assets.
“Part of our mandate also include the registration and regulation of private guard companies, as well as responding to disaster of both natural and man-made causes.’’
The commandant assured NOSDRA of the collaboration of the corps in overcoming the challenges of oil spillage.
Gana also directed the immediate appointment of a desk officer who would liaise between the two organisations, the statement said.
Furthermore, he approved the setting up of NSCDC and NOSDRA teams, who would meet from regularly to fine tune ways of combating the oil spillage menace.
The statement quoted Idabor as saying that the purpose of the visit was to seek the assistance of the corps in the area of vandalism prevention and third-party challenges.
He noted that the activities of vandals constituted a major challenge to NOSDRA, adding that oil spillage caused by such activities, was harmful to the environment.
According to the statement, he called for a joint platform to facilitate interaction between both agencies to evolve ways to tackle the menace. (NAN)
