…Tasks Civil Defence Officers to Sit Up

Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, received the new Civil Defence Officer in charge of the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka, DSC Chioma Nnaewuru, who paid him a courtesy visit at his office.

Addressing the new officer, Mefor, who decried the security challenges in the secretariat, charged her to be ambitious, analytical, and clear about what is needed to ensure full security in the state secretariat to be sent to the governor.

He said the security situation in the secretariat is seriously affecting productivity, and the governor is not happy about it, even as he expressed hope that things will improve with the change in guards.

“We welcome the change in guards. It means that with your coming, we expect that the security of the secretariat will be better.

“Since my arrival almost six months ago, this place, particularly the Ministry of Information building, has experienced very serious security challenges. That explains why we power our offices with generators because of insecurity. The armoured cables supplying light to this wing were vandalised two times. The governor is saying it can’t be replaced unless he is assured it won’t be stolen the third time. My ministry’s solar panels and batteries were also vandalised, among others. And the Civil Defence is the main security agency here.

“The question is, if Civil Defence is here and these things are happening, do we now say we have Civil Defence here? Is it a case of nonchalance, complacency, or incompetence? The Civil Defence I know is one of the leading security agencies. When Governor Soludo set up Operation Udo Ga-Achị, Civil Defence was one of the six leading security agencies brought into that new security architecture. If your competence has been in doubt, you won’t be part of Operation Udo Ga-Achị, which is Governor Soludo’s latest security initiative in the state. So what is happening in the secretariat? It’s important you tell us how security can work here as a professional. You are the expert here. I don’t think it’s out of place or too much to ask that you be on top of security in this place. Let’s secure here,” Mefor said.

Earlier, the new Civil Defence Officer in charge of the secretariat, DSC Nnaewuru, said the purpose of the visit was to familiarise with the commissioner and discuss how to synergise for the effective discharge of their duties.