16 July 2008
The Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, Wednesday assured the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of a site to build its zonal headquarters and training school in Benin.
The Oba gave the assurance when Mr Chidi Evans-Ewerem, the Deputy Commandant-General of NSCDC, paid him a courtesy visit in Benin.
The Oba of Benin, who was responding to the NSCDC chief's speech, promptly granted the request for a piece of land and directed one of his chiefs to act accordingly.
He assured Evans-Ewerem of his support in the security outfit's bid to fight those vandalising oil pipelines in the country.
Earlier, Evans-Ewerem had told the Benin monarch that the commission needed his blessing and support to achieve its set goals, as the Oba is the father of the Minister of Interior, retired Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe.
He said the commission would give vandals of pipelines in the states in the zone a tough fight to force them to abandon their illegal activities.
Evans-Ewerem told the Oba that since oil accounted for more than 80% of the nation's revenue, the NSCDC would do everything possible to protect petroleum installations in Edo and other states.
According to him, the corps' officers are well prepared for the job as they are trained locally and internationally to check the vandals.
Evans-Ewerem appealed to the Oba to give NSCDC land in a choice area to enable it to build a permanent zonal headquarters and a training school.
He said the Oba's statement was an assurance that NSCDC application had sailed through, adding that the corps' Commandant-General, Dr Ade Abolurin, had high regards for the traditional ruler.
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