By Steve Unegbu
The 2021 International Civil Defence Organization Day celebration has been observed with a call on well meaning Nigerians to leverage on the message of the 2021 ICDO theme to take appropriate measures towards securing lives and properties of Nigerians and foreign Nationals doing legitimate business in the country.
Speaking during the celebration in Umuahia,the Abia state commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps,Mr Vincent Ogu ,called on Nigerians ” to join hands to build a society of our dreams where adequate security will trigger economic growth and development which in turn will bring a corresponding reduction in unemployment, hunger and starvation “
In a release duly signed by the Abia Command’s public Relations officer, DSC Ndukwe Agu Egwu ,the State commandant said,” This year’s theme : Strong Civil Protection to preserve the National Economy’ Presupposes that a well secured civil populace constitutes a National asset that supports,sustained economic growth and development “
Mr Ogu described the theme of this year celebration as “apt and could not have come at more auspicious time than now ,when many countries of the world are facing civil unrest ,unemployment issues ,humanitarian crisis ,civil -military, paramilitary mistrust /suspicion and economic recession occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic which has redefined world socioeconomic and political realities “
Speaking further ,he noted that ,” No nation thrives under crisis,like no economy survives under constant attacks on the critical National Assets and infrastructure upon which such economy sits “…
According to him,” The ugly experience from the hijacked #ENDSARS protest and ruins it left behind remain a constant reminder of the importance of stronger synergy and effective collaboration amongst security Agencies on one hand and strategic partnership with the civil populace on the other “
He urged that security Agencies in the nation must deemphasis interagency supremacy conflict and collaboratively work to earn the trust and confidence of the civil populace, who will in turn support through providing useful and timely intelligent information..
He pointed out that the fight against criminality will record a great boost when proper attention has been given to the issue