The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has pledged to train security personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara.
NSCDC state commandant, Mr Iskil Makinde said this on Friday.
This was when the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami led the management team of the commission on a courtesy visit to the NSCDC.
Makinde was responding to the request of the REC, who appealed to the commandant to help train the security men at the state INEC office.
The NSCDC commandant assured the commissioner that he would do something about the request, which was achievable.
“With regards to your request, I believe it is not out of place requesting us to train your personnel, we will work it out, whatever it is; it is not something that is not achievable.
“Having one security personnel on duty is not always the best, what if he wants to answer the call of nature, or he falls sick?
“Our mandate is to secure critical national assets and infrastructure, and INEC is one of them, so we cannot shy away from that.
“It is there in our mission statement to secure critical national assets, INEC is one of the critical national assets, and we will always strive to ensure that your premises are secured,” Makinde said.
The commandant directed the NSCDC head of operations to liaise with others and submit a position paper on the training on Monday.
He also assured the REC of the corps’ readiness, as a member of the Inter Agencies Committee on Election Security (IACES), to always collaborate with INEC to achieve a free and fair elections in 2023.
Earlier, the REC, Attahiru-Madami, told the commandant that he was in his office to solicit the support of the NSCDC for the 2023 general elections in Kwara
He said that elections were a civil matter; hence personnel of NSCDC were critical in securing polling units and voters.
Attahiru-Madami said the commission would come up with a blueprint once the national headquarters of INEC released the timetable.
He commended the NSCDC for a job well done in the discharge of its assignment and in assisting INEC whenever he called on them.
The REC said the synergy INEC experienced with security agencies during the 2019 election was so successful that it should be replicated in 2023 for better results.
He called on the commandant to assist the commission to secure its office in Ilorin and in the 16 local government councils.
“I want NSCDC to give our personnel internal training on security,” the resident commissioner said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the REC was accompanied on the visit by his heads of departments.(NAN)
