NSCDC means Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. NSCDC is a paramilitary body of the Federal Government created to provide protection and crisis resolution for civilians in addition to security for public infrastructures like oil installations.
Functions
The functions of NSDC were first outlined in the Act of the corps, the NSDC (Amendment) Act, 2007.
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The functions are elaborately stated that the NSDC shall:
(1) Assist in the maintenance of peace and order and in the protection and rescuing of the civil population during the period of emergency. (2) Recommend to the Minister the registration of private guard companies. (3) From time to time, inspect the premises of private guard companies, their training facilities and approve same if it is up to standard. (4) Supervise and monitor the activities of all private guard companies and keep a register for that purpose. (5) Seal up any private guard company which operates without a valid licence. (6) Maintain twenty-four hour surveillance over infrastructures, sites and projects for the Federal , State and Local Government. (7) Enter and search any premises and seize any material suspected tobeen used in vandalization or suspected proceed of vandalization. (8) Enter and search premises of any suspected illegal dealer in petroleum products or material used by Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Postal Services, Nigeria Telecommunication or for any other public utility or infrastructure (9) Have power to arrest with or without a warrant, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings by or in the name of the Attorney-General of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against any person who is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act or is involved in any: (i) Criminal activity (ii) Chemical poison or oil spillage nuclear waste, poisoning (iii) Industry espionage or fraud; (iv) Activity aimed at frustrating any government program or policy; (v) Riot, civil disorder, revolt, strike, or religious unrest. (vi) Power transmission lines, oil pipelines, NIPOST cables, equipment, water board pipes or equipment vandalisation (10) Monitor the activities of religious bodies and trade associations. (11) Monitor, investigate, and take every necessary step to forestall any planned act of terrorism particularly. (i) Cult and ethnic militia activities (ii) Criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their properties or lives (iii) Syndicate activity aimed at defrauding the Federal, State or Local Government (12) Monitor, investigate, and take every necessary step to forestall any act of terrorism and report same to appropriate Federal Security Agency. (13) Provide necessary warning for the civilian population in times of danger (14) Evacuate the civilian population from danger areas. (15) Provide and manage shelters for civilians during period of emergency. (16) Asist in the decontamination and in the taking of precautionary measures during any period of emergency. (17) Carry out rescue operations and control volatile situations. (18) Assist in the provision of emergency medical services, including first aid, during any period of emergency. (19) Detect and demarcate any danger area. (20) Assist the Federal and State Fire Service in Fire-fighting operation. (21) Assist in the distribution of emergency supplies. (22) Provide assistance to restore and maintain order in distressed areas in any period of emergency. (23) Assist in repairing indispensable public utilities during any period of emergency (24) Provide intelligence information to the Ministry on any matter relating to (i) Crime control generally; (ii) Riot, disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest; (iii) Subversive activity by members of the public aimed at frustrating any government programme or policy; (iv) Industrial action and strike aimed at paralyzing Government activities; (v) Any other matter as may be directed by the Minister (25) Arrange and mediate in the settlement of disputes among willing members of the public.
More on NSCDC
For the purpose of efficiently carrying out the functions set out in section 3 of the Principal Act, the Corps shall maintain an armed squad which shall be entitled to bear fire arms and deployed by the office of the Commandant General.
NSCDC was first introduced in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then Federal Capital Territory of Lagos for the purpose of sensitization and protection of the civil populace. It was then known as Lagos Civil Defence Committee.
In 1970 it was reshaped to the current NSCDC. The Corps had the objective of carrying out educational and enlightenment campaigns in the Federal Capital of Lagos to sensitize civilians on enemy attacks and how to save themselves from danger as many Nigerians then had little knowledge about war and its implications. Members of the Committee deemed it important to educate through tv, radio, newspapers and pamphlets on how to guide themselves during enemy attacks like bombardment, how to identify bombs and dive into trenches during bomb blast.
In 1984, the Corps was transformed into a federal security outfit. In 1988, a major re-structuring of the Corps took place and this led to the establishment of Commands throughout the Federation, including Abuja, and the addition of functions to it.
On 28 June 2003, an act to give statutory backing to the NSCDC passed by the National Assembly was signed into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The act was amended in 2007 to enhance the statutory duties of the corp.
NSCDC is given powers to institute legal proceedings of the Attorney General in accordance with the provisions of the constitution against any person(s) suspected to have committed an offence, maintain an armed squad in order to bear fire arms among others to strengthen the corps in the discharge of its statutory duties.
