A civil society organisation, Save Nigeria Movement (SNM), has described the call by a representative of 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.
Recall that the IGP made the call at a National Dialogue for strengthening security and the role of the NPF, organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja with the theme ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’.
The IGP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ben Okoro, said that the NSCDC and the FRSC were duplications of the Police Force.
Convener, Save Nigeria Movement, Reverend Solomon Semaka, in a statement, berated the IGP’s comment, saying the Nigerian Police Force was in dire need of reforms.
The organisation expressed 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).
It said while it will be inimical to national security to merge those agencies, the suggestion is an attempt to undermine the extraordinary work the NSCDC is doing.
While opposing the unpopular view of the IGP, the rights group praised famous Nigerian leaders including former President Goodluck Jonathan for 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.
The CSO enumerated various achievements of the NSCDC in enhancing the security and economic well-being of the country, while canvassing for support for the NSCDC including increased funding and a pledge to always support the initiatives and programmes of the Corps by mobilising other civil society organisations to oppose any and all clandestine efforts aimed at undermining the NSCDC.