The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and a private security company have taken over the security of the News Agency of Nigeria, Lagos Office.
The security firms, including Real Strikers Security Limited, resumed duty on Monday at the NAN premises.
The Lagos office of NAN is located at the National Theatre Annex, Iganmu, Lagos.
The hiring of NSCDC and private security operatives became necessary after several robbery attacks on NAN Lagos facilities, where equipment, including a 27KVA generator, were stolen.
NAN reports that in 2023 alone, the hoodlums attacked the facility more than five times and took away electrical cables, thereby plunging the agency’s Lagos office into darkness.
The Managing Director of NAN, Mallam Ali M. Ali, on resumption of office, promised among other things to address the insecurity situation in Lagos office.
Receiving the operatives on Monday in Lagos, the Head of Lagos Operations, Kayode Olaitan, who represented the Managing Director, commended the NSCDC management for approving the operatives for NAN Lagos office.
Olaitan said that the deployment was a mutual understanding between the two federal agencies, stressing that NAN had maintained a good relationship with the NSCDC.
He said the operatives would secure the office 24 hours round the clock, urging NAN staffers to give maximum cooperation to them.
Olaitan said that apart from NSCDC operatives, a private security company would also provide support for the NSCDC officers.
He urged the security operatives to put in their best to ensure that the old story of theft was a thing of the past.
The leadership of three unions in NAN Lagos office: Nigeria Union of Journalists; Radio, Television, Theatre Arts and Workers Union; and Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government Owned Companies, were also present to receive the security operatives.
They all expressed satisfaction with the NAN management for the commitment to securing the office.
The Chairman of the NUJ, NAN Chapel Lagos, Yunus Yusuf, commended the management’s initiative in engaging security operatives for the office.
Yusuf said that the management had demonstrated commitment, effectiveness and responsibility towards securing NAN premises as promised.
He urged the management to ensure adequate payment of the security allowances when due to avoid hitches.
The chairman also advised the management to ensure that those who had perpetrated crime in the Lagos office were brought to book.
He said: “It is expected that the security operatives will be more dedicated and focused in ensuring safety of lives and property in the Lagos office.
“As a union leader, l want to use this medium to appeal to staff for their cooperation and support in fostering mutual relationship with the security operatives.
“Now that the security operatives have started work, we (NUJ) will give the maximum support needed to assist them to achieve the desired result.”
For the Chairman, RATTAWU, Deji Fadipe, who also commended NAN management under Ali for the boldness in securing the services of the outfit, urged the operatives to be strict in monitoring all activities in and around the agency.
Fadipe said that the presence of the operatives had given confidence of safety to all staff members in NAN Lagos.
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The chairperson, SSASCGOC, Chioma Ezeakonobi, said they had waited for too long for better security personnel to secure staff and facilities in the Lagos office.
Ezeakonobi commended the management for a job well done, urging the Managing Director to keep up the good work.
