10 functions of NSCDC (Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps)

10 functions of NSCDC (Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps). See the functions of NSCDC in Nigeria and their statutory role in providing holistic security to life and properties in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps came to be sometime in 1967, this is a pretty long time, about the time when Nigeria was experiencing civil war.

It came with a mandate to sensitize and protect the Nigerian civil populace. The primary object of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was to create awareness and enlighten the civil populace about the plans of the enemies and the possible way of escaping from the enemies.

You know this time was a critical time in the history of Nigeria, so the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was empowered to educate and then save civil populace from the danger of that war. It becomes one of the Nigeria’s security operatives in 1984.

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After restructuring the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that year, it offices were established across Nigeria, as additional functions were attached to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

However, it was not until 2003, when the National Assembly passed a law that gave the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps a statutory backing as a licensed security outfit in the country, and that law was signed by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, during his tenure as the president of Nigeria.

Of late, that was in 2007, when there was legislation amendment in respect to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which actually was the amendment of the 2003 Act, that development enhanced the capacity and the functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, of which, some of these functions, we are going to discuss together in this article.

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10 Functions of NSCDC in Nigeria Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps amendment Act has empowered the paramilitary with  the following functions:

1. Maintenance of Peace

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is empowered to assist in ensuring that peace and order is maintained in the Nigerian society, the paramilitary also protects members of the Nigerian public, as well as get Nigerian civil population rescued in event where there is any emergency. So maintenance of peace and order in the society has remained one of its statutory functions. functions of NSCDC

2. Recommends Private Guard Companies

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has been saddling with the responsibility of ensuring that every private guard company that is due for registration or has been registered is recommend to the Minister, and that should be the Minister of defence.

3. Inspects Private Guard Companies

Inspecting private guard companies has remained one of the statutory functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, so more often time, the paramilitary is expected to carry out inspection routine within the premises and the environ of any existing private guard company, this includes inspecting training facilities in the private guard company , one these facilities are of the standard, what the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps does is to approve these facilities for use.

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4. Supervises The Activities Of Private Guard Companies

Much of what the private guard companies do are under the supervision of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. So the paramilitary is empowered to supervise the private guard companies, as well as monitor their activities. Everything recorded during the supervision is kept in a register by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Functions of NDLEA

5. Organizes Training Program For Private Guard Companies

On regular basis, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps undertakes training program for the private guard companies, and this training program can come in the form of workshops, symposiums.

The paramilitary will ensure that the training courses are of standard, such that will make operations of the private guard companies efficient.

And apart from that, any private guard company that operates without approval or that has not a valid license to operate would be sealed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

6. Maintains Surveillance

One of the major functions of NSCDC in Nigeria is to maintain surveillance. The surveillance is twenty four hours surveillance over government facilities, these facilities could belonged to the federal government or the state government, even the local government.

And such government facilities are not limited to infrastructure and projects among others. These can be  owned by either the federal government or the state government and/or local government.

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7. Seizes Suspected Proceed Of Vandalization

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is authorized to enter any place, any where and any premises in search of any suspected proceed used for vandalization, and once the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps enters any premises and found out that there are proceed or material, they suspected perhaps, have been used to vandalize government facilities, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will seize such material.

 8. Investigates For Illegal Dealer In Petroleum

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is authorized to enter any place, premises to undertake search at any event of suspected illegal dealer of petroleum products.

More so, sometimes, there are illegal persons who go about parading themselves as service providers, this often happened in the case of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, and Postal Services, and Nigeria Telecommunication, including any other public utility, so what the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps does is to enter any place and search for suspected illegal individuals, and such offense is punishable by law.

9. Arrest With Or Without Warrant

As one of the security operatives, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is empowered to make arrest whether or not there is warrant to that effect.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has the statutory right to detain any one, and if necessary, conducts investigation into a matter and possibly, can summons or institutes legal action against whosoever, and this is done using the name of the Attorney-General of Nigerian Federation according to the law as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. NSCDC Job Portal

There is provisions of the constitution of Nigeria against any individual found guilty of  committing an offence under this Act or is involved in any criminal act.

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10 Statutory Function

Statutory functions of NSCDC in Nigeria is to protect lives and properties in conjunction with Nigeria police. One of the crucial functions of the corp is to protect pipelines from vandalism. The agency also involves in crisis resolutions. They protect the country.

Summary of Functions of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

By virtue of the new law, the Civil Defence Corps has the following duties: functions of NSCDC in Nigeria

• Assist in the maintenance of peace and order and in the protection and rescuing of the Civil population during the period of emergency.
• Recommend to the Minister the registration of private guard companies,
• From time to time, inspect the premises of private guard companies, their training facilities and approve same if it is up to standard.
• Supervise and monitor the activities of all private guard companies and keep a register for that purpose.
• Periodically organize workshop, and training courses for private guard companies and seal up any private guard company which operates without a valid licence.
• Maintain twenty-four hour surveillance over infrastructures, sites and projects for the Federal , State and Local Government.
• Enter and search any premises and seize any material suspected to have been used in vandalization or suspected proceed of vandalization.
• Enter and search premises of any suspected illegal dealer in petroleum products or material used by Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Postal Services, Nigeria Telecommunication or for any other public utility or infrastructure;
• Have power to arrest with or without a warrant , detain , investigate and institute legal proceedings by or in the name of the Attorney-General of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against any person who is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act or is involved in any:
(i) Criminal activity
(ii) Chemical poison or oil spillage nuclear waste, poisoning
(iii) Industry espionage or fraud;
(iv) Activity aimed at frustrating any government program or policy;
(v) Riot, civil disorder, revolt, strike, or religious unrest.
(vi) Power transmission lines, oil pipelines, NIPOST cables, equipment, water boad pipes or equipment vandalisation
• Monitor the activities of religious bodies and trade associations.
• Monitor, investigate, and take every necessary step to forestall any planned Act of terrorism particularly.
– Cult and Ethnic militia activities
– Criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their properties or lives
– Syndicate activity aimed at defrauding the Federal, State or Local Governement;
• Monitor, investigate, and take every necessary step to forestall any act of terrorism and report same to appropriate Federal Security Agency. FRSC Recruitment
• Provide necessary warning for the civilian population in times of danger
• Evacuate the civilian population from danger areas.
• Provide and manage shelters for civilians during period of emergency.
• Asist in the decontamination and in the taking of precautionary measures during any period of emergency.
• Carry out rescue operations and control volatile situations.
• Assist in the provision of emergency medical services, including first aid, during any period of emergency.
• Detect and demarcate any danger area.
• Assist the Federal and State Fire Service in Fire-fighting operation.
• Assist in the distribution of emergency supplies.
• Provide assistance to restore and maintain order in distressed areas in any period of emergency.
• Assist in repairing indispensable public utilities during any period of emergency
• Provide intelligence information to the Ministry on any matter relating to:
(i) Crime control generally;waec time table
(ii) Riot, disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest;
(iii) Subversive activity by members of the public aimed at frustrating any government programme or policy;
(iv) Industrial action and strike aimed at paralysing Government activities;
(v) Any other matter as may be directed by the Minister; and
(vi) Have power to arrange and mediate in the settlement of disputes among willing members of the public.

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Conclusion

Of late, that was in 2007, when there was legislation amendment in respect to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which actually was the amendment of the 2003 Act, that development has enhanced the capacity and the functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which have discussed here together.

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