A rights group, Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) has described the call by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun for the merger of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as counterproductive and ill-advised.
The IGP was reported to have made the call at a National Dialogue for strengthening security and the role of the NPF, organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja.
Represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ben Okoro, the IGP said that the NSCDC and the FRSC were duplications of the police force.
In a statement signed by Rev. Solomon Semaka, Convener, Save Nigeria Movement, and made available to journalists in Abuja, the group berated the IGP for contemplating such an absurd thing when the Nigerian Police Force is in dire need of reforms.
According to the release, “we are duty bound to express our strong disapproval and outright rejection of the ill-motivated and ill-timed call for the merger of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). While it’ll be inimical to national security to merge those agencies, we are particularly alarmed by the very thought of merging the NSCDC with the Police and view this suggestion as an attempt to undermine the extraordinary work the NSCDC is doing.
“It is also strange that an already overwhelmed Nigerian Police Force (NPF) would be looking for more duties when it’s obvious she’s shirking her original responsibilities. Instead of focusing on reforming the NPF, the IGP chose rather to play to the gallery in a deliberate attempt to malign the NSCDC.
While vehemently opposing the unpopular views of the IGP, the rights group praised famous Nigerian leaders including President Goodluck Jonathan who affirming their support for the NSCDC and calling for efforts to strengthen it in line with the Oronsanye report towards better and efficient service delivery.
“It is rather disheartening that despite the clear position of the famous Orosanye Report which called for the strengthening of the NSCDC to enable it perform it’s mandate creditably, the IGP regrettably holds a contrary view. Is the IGP questioning the authority of the Oronsanye report that recommended for the strengthening of the NSCDC? Is he just playing on the intelligence of Nigerians who overwhelmingly welcomed the report and are looking forward to it’s full implementation?”, the statement queried.
The CSO enumerated various achievements of the NSCDC which have greatly enhanced the security and economic well being of the country and wondered what could be the IGP’s motive aside inter-agency rivalry.
“The NSCDC has been over performing in recent times. Only few weeks ago, the NSCDC destroyed over 10 illegal refineries in the country. It has also deployed Mining Marshalls that have helped to curb illegal mining thereby increasing revenues. This is clearly in line with the Mr. President’s economic recovery plan and the need to meet Nigeria’s OPEC quota as well as the desire for Mr President to push up oil production to two million barrels per day.
