… CAC collaborates with NEPC to boost non-oil exports***
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has destroyed 71 illegal refineries and arrested about 501 suspected pipeline vandals and oil thieves.
NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, disclosed this in his remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of 93 operational vehicles for the Corps by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Also read: Pipeline vandalism: NSCDC arrests 426 suspects, impounds 90 trucks, 38 boats
Audi explained that the figure represented the achievements of the corps between January and August.
He noted that the specialized operational vehicles would be used to combat potential threats to national security, resulting from felonious acts.
He identified such acts as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, smuggling, pipeline vandalism and other crimes within the coastal and offshore areas.
He explained that the inaugurated vehicles would be deployed to commands and the headquarters, alongside designated special duties.
He warned that any personnel found to connive or compromise national security would face the law court of ethics and the corps’ Standard Operational Procedure for appropriate sanctions.
Audi expressed appreciation to other sister security agencies and stakeholders for their continuous collaboration and cooperation.
Meanwhile, Aregbesola charged the corps to remain intolerant of anything that posed threat to the safety and peace of Nigerians.
He said that the acquisition of the operational vehicles was a proactive step toward addressing internal insecurity in the country.
“Utilise and maintain the vehicles to serve their purpose and ensure to train personnel to operate the vehicles,” he said.
According to him, there are challenges of vandalism of critical assets, oil theft, banditry, insurgency, amongst others that must be eliminated.
“The incessant attacks on our Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in particular have become a grievous wound dangerously bleeding the nation’s economy and this must be effectively addressed, checkmated and curbed.
“We shall not relent but must remain focused to eradicate the existence of criminals which is the essence of equipping the corps.”
Aregbesola assured the corps of the Federal Government’s continuous support in repositioning it to maintain the pride of place in ensuring national security.
He called on NSCDC to remain steadfast, urging them to improve in their synergy with the Army, Police and other security agencies.
“NSCDC plays a complementary role so there shouldn’t be rivalry,” he advised.
He further called on officers and men of the corps to imbibe the attitude of civility, compassion and adopt communication methods to engage citizens.
He, however, warned that being civil to citizens shouldn’t deter the corps from being firm but avoid brutality.
In the meantime, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has pledged continued support to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) as it strives to improve online services to grow the non-oil export sector.
The Registrar-General of the commission, Alhaji Garba Abubakar made the pledge when he received Dr Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director of the NEPC, who paid a courtesy visit in his office.
Abubakar said that the commission had ensured a series of collaborations with other sister government agencies in a bid to promote growth in various sectors of the economy.
According to him, in order to ensure seamless interface, the commission granted Application Programme Interface (API) to several embassies and agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), among others.
R-G of CAC, Abubakar with Yakusak ED of NEPC Collaboration
The CAC boss said that the commission was further building synergy with some regulatory agencies, particularly on inactive status of some companies to encourage compliance.
He said that such synergy would soon include verification with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The registrar-general however cautioned against submission of manifestly false information to the commission as such action was liable to two years imprisonment under the provisions of CAMA 2020.
Abubakar said that in line with the ease of doing business initiatives of the administration, companies now have the choice to make all their post-incorporation filings directly to the commission without going through agents after the due creation of Entity Electronic Account (EEA).
Earlier, Dr Ezra Yakusak said that the visit was to among others seek collaboration particularly on improving their online interface for seamless operations.
Yakusak told the registrar-general that although the NEPC had digitized its operations to address procedural hurdles in non-oil export business, collaboration with the CAC was critical to export facilitation.
He said that from 2017 to date the council had registered 23,000 exporters, adding that CAC’s support would enable them transform some of its current manual processes to digital.
The NEPC boss used the forum to laud the commission’s reform initiatives aimed at promoting ease of doing business.
