By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The Lagos Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC).have signed an agreement to jointly protect the civil populace from all forms criminalities, armed conflict and others.
The pact was signed during a courtesy visit by executive of CISLAC on the Commandant of the Corps Usman Ishaq Alfadarai at the Command’s Headquarters, in Alahusa, Ikeja.
In his remark, Alfadarai assured the Government and the good people of the State, of the Corps’ commitment, to protect all civilians and civil spaces, from all forms of crimes and criminalities that may be organized, to cause high volatility and complexity such as armed conflict and others.
This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command of the Corps, DSC Abolurin Oluwaseun made available to journalists on Thursday.
According to the release, Alfadarai also pledged to ensure adequate protection of civilians, before or whenever social, socio – economic, political and psychological issues and so on escalate, to a full blown crisis.
” More so, following the mutual understanding between the Corps and the Center, capacity building has been keenly noted, as parts of the most potent strategies, that can be deployed, to strengthen Advocacy, Accountability and
Local Engagement towards improving Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms (EWER), to enhance protection of Civilians in Nigeria.
” Therefore, the Lagos State Commandant of the Corps, Usman Alfadarai has also made necessary responsive and humanitarian arrangements, to ensure the full participation of the Corps in the one – day capacity building workshop of CISLAC, scheduled, to be held, today, Thursday, 11th May, 2023, at Ikeja, GRA.
” The workshop is expected, to gather field experts, to conduct training and build capacity of relevant stakeholders, including the NSCDC, across levels to advance good practices that will further aid reduction in violence and conflict in Nigeria.
” The Programs Co-ordinator, Peace and Security Bertha Ogbimi who led the team, said the collaboration between the Corps and the Centre, in Lagos was also mainly purposed, to achieve but not limited to the followings; improve Coordination, Collaboration and Communication among civilians and Security Institutions, to better improve protection of civilians in the State and Nigeria.
” Other notable purposes include, to support the activities of Early Warning Community Observers, who will be trained, to
engage, monitor and report Early Warning threat signals under the project, through active participation in Early Response, as activities unfold in the state.
” On the Early Warning and Early Response system, by leveraging verifiable information and data that will be generated in Early Detection and Early Warning effort to prevent or de – escalate crises.
” Alfadarai re-assures the good people of Lagos State and the teeming populace, of the Corps’ historical and continuous responsibility, in the protection of lives and property of civilians, since its establishmemt, in our dear nation.
” Finally, Commandant of Corps UI Alfadarai, also seized the opportunity, to appreciate the CISLAC group, for their proactive measures, in identifying early signs of insecurity and key solutions, to mitigating the challenges that may attempt to overwhelm communities and the society at large.
” Having recommended, amongst others more capacity building exercises, he also further promised to draft strategies that will prevent full blown crisis, which often cause heavy casualties, increase in mortalities, injuries, loss of innocent lives and destruction of valuable property”, the statement reads.
