The Ogun House of Assembly has urged the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to strengthen collaboration with local security outfits to ensure an effective security network across the state.

The speaker, Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), made the call when Remilekun Ekundayo, the new NSCDC commander in Ogun, visited him in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Mr Elemide identified local security outfits, such as the Amotekun Corps, So Safe Corps, Vigilante Service, and Hunters Association.

He said the move would assist the NSCDC in achieving its core mandate of securing critical national assets.

The speaker assured the corps of the assembly’s support in the provision of necessary tools through advocacies.

According to him, lawmakers are ready to collaborate with NSCDC and provide the needed support to ensure the effective security of farmlands and national assets.

Other lawmakers who spoke requested the deployment of more NSCDC officers to rural areas, specifically for the protection of farmers and their farmlands.

They lauded the NSCDC for creating the Agro-Ranger Unit within the corps to protect farmers and farmlands nationwide.

Earlier, Ms Ekundayo appreciated the state legislature’s role in making the state relatively peaceful through legislative instruments and collaboration with other arms of government.

She reiterated the commitment of the NSCDC to performing its core functions of protecting national critical assets and infrastructure, including lives and property.

Ms Ekundayo informed lawmakers that besides the counter-terrorism and anti-vandal sections of the corps, the NSCDC also inaugurated a female squad to man schools and protect school children from kidnapping.

The commander explained that the move was initiated in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

She commended the state government for its continued support of the corps and appealed for more support to enable the NSCDC to enhance its security efficiency.

(NAN)