The Nigerian Navy (NN) has expressed its readiness to effectively strengthen ties with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State to combat vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the new Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, at the naval base in Port Harcourt, the NSCDC Rivers State Commandant, Basil Igwebueze, underscored the need to seek stronger synergy. Igwebueze acknowledged that the NN remained a champion in maritime operations, saying such synergy would foster cordial working relationship, where training and re-training of the Corps personnel, would be done routinely and that it would help personnel to further tap more knowledge from the naval operational expertise’
He said: “ We have a marching order from the NSCDC Commandant, General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to partner all sister security agencies to nip in the bud operations of illegal refineries, vandalism of oil pipelines and illegal dealings in petroleum products across the coastal region.
‘’ On this note, I sincerely request that the NNS Pathfinder should continue to work with us and also give advice, as well as make corrections where necessary, so that together we can boost the country’s economic growth and rid the nation from unscrupulous elements sabotaging the economy”.
The Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Igbo, said the need for inter-agency collaborations and sharing of actionable intelligence could not be undermined because ‘’intelligence gathering is the bedrock of any effective Security operations.’’
The Navy Chief maintained that the NN and the NSCDC had a long aged relationship and that the Command under his watch would sustain that synergy to achieve the common national goal.
He, however, lauded the NSCDC State Commandant for being the first service sommander to pay him a courtesy call upon his assumption of office as the 35th Commander, NNS Pathfinder in Rivers State.
