Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has charged the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, Joachin Okafor, to effectively carry out the Corps mandate in relation to the fight against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele disclosed that Fubara gave this charge on Friday, September 13, 2024 when the NSCDC Commandant led a team of senior management staff of the Command on a courtesy to Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Welcoming the Commandant to the State, the Rivers State Chief Executive lauded the NSCDC Commandant General for deploying an experienced and operational Commandant to the State, describing his deployment as “a timely deployment”.

He noted that God did not make a mistake in bringing him to the State, therefore, he must justify his existence through the fight against crude oil theft, especially, with the NSCDC being the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure of both federal and the states.

“Our duty is to support you in order to carry out your statutory duties effectively; this is because it impacts us positively. Crude oil theft affects the economy because the quantity of oil production determines the 13 percent oil derivation. I am happy with your achievements upon your assumption of duty; It shows you are serious and we will support you.”

“Rivers State is a special place with its emerging challenges but the acts of environmental degradation and pollution through human activities which also contributes to climate change is a critical issue to be addressed.

“Your primary assignment is to tackle the menace of illegal oil bunkering as we have also promised Mr President to map out all strategies in combating illegal dealings in petroleum products in Rivers State.”

“Nigeria can only be free from the shackles of economic downturn if our daily production of crude oil increases; in the next 6months we might be in serious situation because there is no economic formula that can save us except we increase production by stopping vandalism of pipelines and stealing of crude oil; we have projected two million barrels per day so you have to work very hard. God did not make a mistake sending you to Rivers state: therefore, justify your corps mandate in the fight.”

Earlier, Commandant Okafor had officially presented his letter of deployment to the Governor, intimating him on the need to collectively fight the menace of crude oil theft ro salvage the nation’s economy from saboteurs.

The NSCDC Boss expressed his appreciation to the Governor for his administration’s continued support and provision of needed logistics to enhance the daily operations of the NSCDC in Rivers State.

“The NSCDC Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR has asked me to specially thank His Excellency for the smooth relationship and logistics support to the command in the past as we pledge to work assiduously in tackling emerging security challenges and provide serene atmosphere for the good people of Rivers State to carry out their duties daily without fear or threats.”

“My vision and passion is to pursue the fulfillment of our Corps mandate without compromise, upon my assumption of duty we have kicked the ball rolling by effecting the arrests of five suspects through Marine operations at Tombia-Iwofe axis; three boats laden with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered as exhibits.”

“Another illegal bunkering site situated in an abandoned construction site at Igbo-Etche in Etche Local Government Area was uncovered with over 70 Tanks of raw crude impounded; seven drums of locally refined petroleum products were recovered at Obio/Akpor LGA and a massive barge laden with unqualified AGO was impounded and two suspects arrested; all within 7 days after taking over the command leadership as the 15th substantive State Commandant of the NSCDC in Rivers State.”

The Rivers State Commandant of the NSCDC, Joachin Okafor thanked the Governor for the warm reception, pledging to synergize with sister security agencies and respective stakeholders in gathering actionable intelligence and information needed to fight all acts of economic sabotage against the government and the peaceful coexistence of the good people of the State.