The Federal Government has decorated new Deputy Controllers-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Deputy Comptrollers-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and a Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The decorated officers were: DCG Tukur Ahmed Muhammed, DCG Ladipo Tunde Olatunbosun and Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi for the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS); DCG Haliru Abdul Mumini Ishaka, DCG Opara Anthonia Ifeoma, DCG Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola and DCG Yarima Aminu Bako for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and DCG Iyogho Jonathan Iyere for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
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While decorating the officers in his office in Abuja today, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said they were coming on board at a period of great national security challenge, so the public expects them to solve Nigeria’s security challenges.
“The Ministry of Interior is always on the mouth of commentators and analysts when the security situation in the country is being mentioned. This is to let you know the great expectations people have of you,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by the ministry.
According to him: “We have been in the throes of bandits, insurgents and other baddies, draining resources and psychic energy. Our agencies must rise to the plate. NSCDC in particular should maximise their grassroots penetration for intelligence gathering.
“The criminals live in our homes, offices, farms, bushes and forests. They roam our streets and engage in day-to-day activities with us.”
He added that these challenges also extend to managing our borders. “NIS has been doing a yeoman’s job but more needs to be done. A large chunk of the responsibility of containing Covid 19 and national security challenges falls on the NIS.
“Preventing those likely to do us harm from passing through our borders will forever remain a challenge. That is why you are there,” the Minister asseverated.
“Criminals will keep getting more sophisticated in order to be ahead of you; but in order to beat them, you have to be ahead of their game at all times. Playing catch up with criminals can be deadly and very costly. Keeping out known and unknown criminals out of our borders is therefore an unfinished business. You cannot rest on your oars”
Aregbesola reiterated. Aregbesola who congratulated the decorated officers for achieving this feat, noted that the service has recognised their professionalism, dedication, sacrifice and, above all, their patriotism. “You have earned your stripes,” he stated.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore noted that the current security situation has necessitated increased vigilance by security operatives, as well as the need for improved quality of security operations in Nigeria.
He added that the Federal Government has put measures in place to ensuring that Nigeria overcome the challenges of rising insecurity demonstrated by kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, arson, herder-farmer conflicts and so on.
Speaking on behalf of the newly decorated officers, DCG Haliru Abdul Mumini Ishaka of the Nigeria Immigration Service, promised their commitment to achieving the mandate of the Ministry.
