By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor

ABUJA— Contrary to reports that Acting Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, called for the scrapping of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Police sources said he simply called on the authorities concerned to streamline their functions so as to create a harmonious working relationship with other such agencies.

An aide to the Police boss who spoke on the guise of anonymity to Vanguard, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja said, the Acting IGP was shocked by the report that he called for the scrapping of the Civil Defence Corps but did not want to join issues with anybody.

According to him, “What the IGP drew the attention of the Presidential Interim Implementation Committee on the reform of the Nigeria Police led by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was to look into the overlapping functions of both the Police and the Civil Defence Corps in order to effectively streamline their functions, so as to sufficiently create a harmonious working relationship between them.

“The Acting Police boss also noted that the 2007 Act that set up the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, contradicts the provisions of Section 214 (1) of the 1999 constitution establishing the Nigeria Police Force. He did not, during the said meeting, or at any other place or time make any statement either expressly or otherwise that Police wants Civil Defence Corpe to be scrapped.”

The aide who noted that such report is capable of creating an atmosphere that may not be suitable for the corporate image and co-existence of the two security agencies also stated that it may undermine the spirit of inter-agency corporation existing between both agencies.

“The story is entirely a figment of the reporter’s imagination and is totally misleading.  It is pertinent to state that the IGP is fully aware of the various statutory provisions establishing the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC)”, he stated.