Metro
Pipeline Vandalism: Eweka Promises Zero Tolerance, Evacuates Sacks, Cans of Stolen PMS in Badagry
The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Douglas Okoro, has again promised to ensure zero tolerance to oil pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminality in Lagos State.
In this vein, the Marine and anti-vandal team of the Badagry division of the Command, has intercepted some suspected vandals who were sabotaging pipeline products in the area.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASCI Oluwaseun Abolurin, in a statement, quoted the Divisional Officer, Badagry Division, Lagos State Command, Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Akinyemi Rasheed Ayodeji, who led the operation, as saying that the suspected vandals took to their heels, on sighting the officers of the division.
The statement further stated as follows:
“Thegallant marine and anti-vandal team, who intercepted the suspected vandals at the Badagry division, discovered some thick nylons ( white colour ) wrapped with sacks loaded with unknown quantity of litres of petrol, numbering four eight (48) in quantity and another thirty six 30litre kegs loaded with (PMS), which the vandals intended to cart away around Mangoro creek along Iya’fin waterways heading towards the Republic of Benin.
“The Commandant has immediately ordered the Anti – vandal unit of the Command to evacuate the suspected products back to the Lagos State Command, Head Quarters, in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, in a bid, to carry out further intelligent investigation.
“TheCommandant, Commandant Eweka Okoro has also directed that the security of lives and property and the protection of oil pipelines in the Badagry Division and other oil pipeline areas, in the state be beefed up immediately.
“The Commandant said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) office in the state has also been contacted for proper evacuation of the products because of the highly inflammable nature of it.
“Commandant Eweka Okoro seized the occasion of this excellent operation, to further reiterate the Command’s readiness and commitment to ensuring a zero tolerance against oil pipeline vandalism and other form of criminalities in the state. He further assured the good people of Lagos and the Government of Lagos State of his unflinching commitment and dedication towards sustaining the already established peace and security in the state. He promised that the Corps will continue to work assiduously and laboriously, with the Government and other security services or agencies and stakeholders in the state to further proffer solutions to any form of security challenges that may want to raise their ugly heads.
In the wake of a good number of road traffic crashes that resulted into fire outbreak in recent times, and the urgent need to bring the menace to an end, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Federal Fire Service (FFS) have entered into a historic partnership aimed at eliminating fire-related crashes on Nigerian roads.
A statement by the FRSC’s Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the groundbreaking collaboration will witness the joint training of personnel from both agencies, joint enforcement patrol, as well as improved data sharing to enhance response times and effectiveness.
The partnership, which was formalized by the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed and the Controller-General, FFS, Engr. Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu at the national headquarters of the Corps, marks a significant milestone in the quest to reduce the incidence of fire-related crashes on Nigerian roads.
Speaking during the visit, the Controller-General noted that the Federal Fire Service is committed to protecting lives and properties, and this partnership will enable the two services to respond more effectively to fire-related emergencies on the roads. He showed optimism as he looks forward to working closely with the FRSC to achieve shared goals.
Responding to the Controller General, the Corps Marshal highlighted that the partnership is a testament to the Corps’ commitment to safety and determination to explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing the nation’s transportation sector. He noted that by combining expertise and resources, the agencies can significantly reduce the risk of escalation of fire-related crashes and make the roads safer for all users.
The joint training program will focus on equipping personnel from both agencies with the skills and knowledge needed to respond effectively to fire-related crashes. The program will cover topics such as fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency response.
In addition to the joint training program, the partnership will also involve improved data sharing and effective patrol operations between the two agencies to enforce compliance on having fire extinguishers in vehicles. This will enable them to share critical information on fire-related crashes, including incident locations, response times, and outcomes.
By combining their strengths and resources, the FRSC and FFS are poised to make a significant impact on road safety in Nigeria. This partnership serves as a model for future collaborations between agencies and underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in achieving shared goals.
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has taken more proactive action towards tackling the spate of tanker crashes in Nigeria, as he visits the national headquarters of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch-National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employers (NUPENG-PTD) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The visit, according to a statement by the Corps’ Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), which was a prelude to the forthcoming critical stakeholders meeting organised at the expense of the Corps Marshal to discuss possible ways of bringing to an end, all challenges confronting the safety of lives and properties in the road transportation sector of the country.
While appreciating the support the Corps has received over the years from the Union, the Corps Marshal laid emphasis on the greater need for more collaboration and partnership, especially in the area of training and retraining of Petroleum Tanker Drivers and complying with minimum safety standards in haulage operations.
The National Chairman of the Union, Comrade Augustine Egbon who received the Corps Marshal, commended FRSc’s proactive approach towards enhancing safety in haulage operations in Nigeria. He accepted the need for more collaboration with the Corps in the area of training and retraining and further registered the readiness of the Union to support the Corps through mass media sensitisation campaigns.
The visit amongst other things forms part of Corps Marshal’s ongoing effort to ensure that all stakeholders play critical role in enhancing safety on the nation’s highways.
The meeting had Members of Management of the Corps as well as the Deputy National Chairman of the Union, Alhaji Shuaibu Leba, the National Trustee NUPENG-PTD, Otunba Salmon Akanni Oladiti as well as other Excos of the Union.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, on Wednesday, engaged one another in a physical fight during a meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, at the headquarters.
The altercation began when Sunday Ude-Okoye, a party chieftain, was ejected from the meeting.
Samuel Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye are contending over the position of National Secretary of the party.
Ude-Okoye had arrived the venue of the meeting before Anyanwu and acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum.
But, when Anyanwu arrived, Ude-Okoye was forced out of the meeting by suspected thugs, a situation that led to an altercation.
