…….a delegation of Energy and Maritime Reporters in Port Harcourt to commemorate the 2023 World Seafarers Day.
By Tamuno Briggs, Porthacourt
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has urged the media to collaborate in the battle against oil theft by reporting misconduct by officers. The call was made by Basil Igwebueze, the Commandant of NSCDC’s Rivers State Command, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Energy and Maritime Reporters in Port Harcourt to commemorate the 2023 World Seafarers Day.
Igwebueze warmly welcomed the delegation and emphasized that the crucial responsibility of safeguarding vital national assets includes curbing illicit activities involving petroleum products.
He expressed the command’s openness to receiving support and forming partnerships, particularly with the media, to effectively combat the proliferation of illegal oil bunkering and the presence of unlicensed firearms in the country.
Igwebueze said, “It is also on record that some criminal activities occur in the waterways, for instance, as part of the insurgencies we are witnessing in the country, we have discovered that some criminals from the neighbouring countries enter into our territory through the waters.
“They import arms into the country, so when you talk of the proliferation of weapons in the country, it is closely related to some criminal activities on the waters.
“On that effect, the federal government has helped to equip us so that we can be in a better position to check all these, especially that of illegal oil dealings is where we have our mandate centered on.”
Continuing, Igwebueze said, “You (media) will be of immense assistance to us, report us as we are, when you discover someone with unruly behavior because the people that are charged with the responsibility are human so in their efforts they may err on the side of caution.
“If they make some mistakes, then also advise us approximately to continue to guide them, to continue to urge them to perform their duties diligently.”
