COMMANDANT USMAN ALFADARAI VOWS TO SECURE INEC PERSONNEL, FACILITIES AND ELECTORAL MATERIALS

COMMANDANT USMAN ALFADARAI VOWS TO SECURE INEC PERSONNEL, FACILITIES AND ELECTORAL MATERIALS

 ..... ASSURES READINESS OF NSCDC IN LAGOS.

The State Commandant , Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Lagos State Command, Commandant of Corps ( CC ) Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, fdc, mnim, mpa, earlier yesterday, Friday, 3rd February, 2023, visited, the Honourable Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Lagos, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, MFR, mni, at the commission's office situated in Yaba, Lagos.

CC Usman Alfadarai vowed to secure INEC personnel, facilities and electoral materials amongst others, while stating his purpose of visit, at the very crucial engagement with the REC and the INEC management staff today. He further assured the Commission, of the Command's unflinching readiness commitment and allegiance to the electoral process, which also formed part of the basis for choosing the INEC Headquarters as the first point of call after his assumption into office as the new NSCDC, Lagos State Commandant. 

He then reiterated further that as one of the major stakeholders in the electoral process, the NSCDC has a lot of roles to play, particularly in the protection of INEC personnel, facilities and  electoral materials.

"In the wake of the forthcoming general elections and the current security threat to INEC facilities, across the nation, I have been given a special mandate to provide security for INEC personnel, electoral materials and facilities and this formed part of the reasons that made me embark on this very crucial visit," CC Usman Alfadarai said.

He then sought the support and co-operation  of INEC to continue to sustain the already established harmonious working relationship between the Commission and the Corps, create better enabling environment and improved working relationships, which will spur the Command to render effective security services, in line with its mandates, before, during and after the elections.

The Honourable Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ), of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Lagos, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, MFR, mni, in a warm reception of the NSCDC, Lagos State Commandant, CC Usman Alfadarai, divulged the many achievements of the Commission in the areas of voter education and publicity, sensitization of Nigerians against the menace of fake news, misinformation, disinformation and malinformation as well as improvement in the  collection of Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) by registered voters.

The REC, Lagos State, however, stated that there is no process without its own challenges, with due regard to the enormous work the Commission has put in place to ensure a free, fair, peaceful and  credible 2023 general elections, in Lagos State and the entire nation as well.  

He then called on the continuous support of the NSCDC, Lagos State Commandant in the areas of security of personnel both in the office and on the field, protection of sensitive and non - sensitive electoral materials, peaceful conduct of the entire electoral  process and maintenance of law and order before, during and after the elections amidst many others. 

In addition, he further seized the opportunity to commend the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), the Nigeria Police Force ( NPF ), the Department of State Services ( DSS ) and other relevant stakeholders on election matters for harmonious and synergetic working  relationships aimed at reposing trust and confidence in the minds of present - day well informed voters in the State. 

The INEC team, who received the NSCDC, Lagos State Commandant were Mr Olusegun Agbaje MFR, mni, Hon., Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Adebisi Ajayi, Administrative Secretary, Mr Daramola Felix, Head of Department ( HOD ), Electoral Operations, Mr Taiwo Gbadegesin, HOD General Administration and Procurement, Mr Gabriel Abidakun, HOD Election Party Monitoring, Mr Muyiwa Yusuf, HOD VR/ ICT, Mrs Bolanle Babajide,HOD Legal Services, Mrs Adenike Tadese, HOD Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Akin Akinbohun, Personal Assistant to the Honourble REC.

Finally, senior officers, who accompanied the NSCDC, Lagos State Commandant, to the INEC visit, included; Deputy Commandant of Corps ( DCC ) Paul Shomide ( Head of Administration Department ), Superintendent of Corps ( SC ) Aliyu Jamilu ( Personal Assistant to the Commandant ), Deputy Superintendent of Corps ( DSC ) Abolurin Oluwaseun ( Public Relations Officer ), DSC Afolabi Muyideen ( Officer - in - Charge INEC ), Assistant Superintendent of Corps II ( ASC II ) Osita Ejononu ( Head of Protocol ).