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The United Kingdom Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Mine Action Service, has provided Explosive Ordnance Risk Education training to 75 officers from the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The inaugural training, held in Maiduguri, concluded on 4th October 2024.
The Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission, Abuja, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, disclosed this in a statement released on Monday.
The programme aimed to equip NPF and NSCDC officers with the necessary skills to educate at-risk communities about the dangers of unexploded ordnance, thereby reducing the risk of casualties.
The trained officers will now be deployed to vulnerable areas to share life-saving knowledge with residents.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, John Sanderson, the Human Security Adviser at the British High Commission, underscored the significance of the training.
“This training is critically important. Police and Civil Defence officers will now be able to deploy to prioritised locations to raise awareness among community members about the risks of explosive ordnance. This will help to enhance human security in high-risk areas affected by conflict,” he said.
Edwin Faigmane, Chief of the UNMAS Mine Action Programme in Nigeria, noted that the collaboration with the NPF and NSCDC facilitates the delivery of essential safety messages to hard-to-reach areas.
“Working with the NPF and NSCDC enables us to deliver these essential life-saving messages in hard-to-reach areas. It also builds sustainability, as the NPF and NSCDC will be present in these areas, working with communities to better protect people from the dangers posed by explosive ordnance,” Faigmane said.
NSCDC Commandant Abdulkadir Sulu highlighted the training’s benefits, stating, “Acquiring EORE will not only enhance the effectiveness of NSCDC personnel in helping communities affected by explosive remnants of war to stay safe, but it will also significantly contribute to ensuring the safety of our personnel and their families.”
Commissioner of Police Patrick Atayero announced that the newly established Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear training school in Maiduguri has officially commenced operations.
He expressed gratitude to UNMAS and the UK Government for their support, describing the initiative as a “milestone” in promoting a safer environment in northeast Nigeria.
