NSCDC defends officers over viral gas enforcement incident in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has reacted to a viral video circulating on social media, stating that its operatives were obstructed while carrying out a lawful assignment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SC Daniel Aidamenbor, the Corps said it was in possession of the full footage of the incident, which it claimed provided proper context of what transpired.

According to the statement, the officers were on routine compliance checks in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to enforce safety standards in the gas retail sector.

The Corps explained that gas retailing is a regulated business requiring operators to obtain licences and safety clearance from the NMDPRA, stressing that the NSCDC does not issue licences but only monitors compliance.

It stated that during the operation captured in the viral video, a man and a woman allegedly failed to produce a valid licence when requested and claimed to have made payment to another government agency not connected to the NSCDC.

The Command said attempts to confiscate the weighing scale and gas cylinder were resisted, prompting the officers to apply what it described as minimal force to carry out their duty.

While noting that ignorance of the law is not an excuse, the State Commandant ordered a full investigation into the incident and recalled the officers involved for debriefing. He also urged members of the public to report any proven case of extortion or abuse through the office of the Public Relations Officer.