Abeokuta, Ogun State – The Ogun State House of Assembly has called on the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to sustain and strengthen its collaboration with local security outfits in the state to ensure a more effective security network. The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by the new State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo, to the Assembly Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, emphasized the importance of synergy between the NSCDC and local security groups such as the Amotekun Corps, So Safe Corps, Vigilante Service, and Hunters Association. He noted that such collaboration is crucial for safeguarding physical infrastructure, farmlands, and the lives and properties of residents across the state.
Rt. Hon. Elemide assured the NSCDC of the Assembly’s support in providing necessary tools and legislative backing to enhance its operations. He also pledged the lawmakers’ commitment to advocating for measures that would ensure the success of the Corps in securing farmlands and other critical assets.
In their remarks, Deputy Speaker Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi, Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye, Deputy Chief Whip Babatunde Tella, and Hon. Waliu Owode urged the NSCDC to deploy more personnel to rural areas. They highlighted the need to protect farmers and their farmlands, as well as other vital infrastructure, from threats such as banditry and herder-farmer conflicts. The lawmakers commended the NSCDC for establishing the Agro-Ranger Unit, which focuses on safeguarding farmers and farmlands nationwide.
Earlier in her address, Commandant Remilekun Ekundayo praised the Ogun State Legislature for its role in fostering peace through legislative instruments and collaboration with other arms of government. She reiterated the Corps’ commitment to its core mandates, including the protection of critical national assets, infrastructure, and lives and property.
The Commandant also highlighted the NSCDC’s efforts in addressing emerging security challenges, such as the creation of the Female Squad to protect schoolchildren from kidnapping, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education. While expressing gratitude for the state government’s support, she appealed for additional resources to enhance the Corps’ efficiency in Ogun State.
The meeting underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration and legislative support in tackling security challenges and ensuring the safety of residents and critical assets in Ogun State.