THE Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Dr. Eric Odo, has built, commissioned and handed-over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Area Command and two Divisional headquarters complexes in Nkporogwo Ukehe, Ukopi-Ekwegbe and Ohodo communities.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, Odo described the development as part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen security and protect lives and property in the council area.
He said that the council is the first in Enugu State, and possibly Nigeria, to construct, equip and furnish federal security infrastructure in three locations, in order to make Igbo-Etiti unattractive to criminals.
“No meaningful development can take place in an insecure environment. No investor will invest where the safety of lives and property is not guaranteed.
“The newly commissioned facilities send a clear message that Igbo-Etiti will no longer be a safe haven for criminals,” Odo hinted.
The council boss stated that the presence of the NSCDC Area Command and Divisional headquarters had usher in a new era of crime prevention and rapid-response security operations.
He maintained that this would enable the officers to respond swiftly to distress calls and protect critical infrastructure such as schools, water facilities, electrical installations and other government assets from vandalism.
Odo further said that his administration would continue to provide logistics support to the commands, strengthen joint security operations, expand community intelligence gathering, invest in peace-building and youth empowerment initiatives.
Unveiling the facilities, the NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Audi, commended the Igbo-Etiti council boss for constructing the area command and the divisional complexes, describing the gesture as “laudable”.
Audi, represented by the Zonal Commander in-charge of NSCDC Zone 13, Awka, ACG Cyprian Nwannukwu, expressed satisfaction and gave the assurance that more personnel would be posted to the area.
The NSCDC boss enjoined residents of Igbo-Etiti to provide credible intelligence information to enable the personnel tackle insecurity, noting that peace has come to stay Igbo-Etiti.
Also, the President-General of Ukopi-Ekwegbe Town Union, Mr. Leonard Abonyi, expressed optimism that the divisional headquarters would help to improve security in the community, and pledged their support to him.
The high point of the commissioning was the presentation of Hilux pick-up vehicle to assist the movement of the NSCDC personnel.
