The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, says the agency has aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s zero tolerance for oil theft, advising oil thieves to leave the country or be neutralised.
He said President Bola Tinubu has a tough stand against oil theft, stressing that oil thieves would not have it easy with his men.
Audi spoke at the Passing Out Parade of Course 10 on Monday in Abuja.
He said the NSCDC under him would not condone compromise from any personnel in the ongoing war against oil theft.
Audi directed his men to go all out against oil thieves and ensure they are apprehended.
He said, “Don’t forget we are the lead agency in the protection of critical assets. We must protect the infrastructure of the nation, one of which is the fuel pipelines. We know the stance of the President on oil thefts. There should be no compromise.
“You must dedicate yourself and do your best to reduce and if possible eradicate oil theft. You must arrest oil thieves and those vandalising our pipelines and we shall get them. We advised those who want to continue to launch mayhem on our pipelines to relocate to other countries, otherwise we will go after them and arrest all of them.”
Audi also warned personnel against accidental discharge, saying that anyone found culpable would be strictly dealt with.
Audi said, “We now have a Standard of Operations guiding our activities in the service. You will be court-martialed. In that way discipline in the service (is maintained). This service does not condone accidental discharge.
“If you make a mistake and become trigger-happy then you kill a citizen you will face the wrath of the SOP. Please be careful when you are with your rifle. You are trained to handle a rifle and not to kill unless otherwise. This means you can only kill when you know the person wants to kill you on the battlefield.”
Meanwhile, some officers who joined the NSCDC in 2012 with Higher National Diploma have alleged lack of promotion or being stagnated since they joined the service 11 years ago.
The concerned officers, in an open letter to the President and the National Assembly, lamented that many officers who joined the service after them had been promoted.
“We are using this medium to call the attention of President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, the Head of Service; and all well-meaning Nigerians to look into our issue in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(2012 HND holders intake).
“The question begging for answer from whom it may concern is: why are the 2012 intakes, who are HND holders in the NSCDC, being badly treated, compared to their mates in sister agencies under the same Ministry of Interior?
“We were recruited into the NSCDC in the year 2012 with Inspector of Corps rank (Level 7) alongside with NCE holders.
“We wrote confirmation and promotion examination in the year 2014, being the statutory year to be confirmed according to public service rules, but we were not advanced,properly placed nor promoted after passing the Compro.
“Fast forward to 2016, there was another replacement exercise and all officers recruited then as Assistant Supretendent of corps II were all given automatic promotion to the next rank while all HND holders recruited from 2012 still remained inspectors(Level 7). HND holders recruited since 2012 were still inspectors until 2018 when NSCDC just implemented the removal of HND/BSC dichotomy, same that was implemented in sister para-military agencies under the Ministry of Interior since year 2016.
“Majority of our B.sc holder counterparts that we were recruited together in year 2012 are now hanging the rank of Superintendent (Eagle) while up to 95 per cent of us, HND holders are still on one star up till now, year 2023.”
