Public relations have been identified as a veritable tool in fostering goodwill and mutual relationship between security agencies and the public they serve.
State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State, Dennis Lesor Reuben said this when the Executive Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Port Harcourt.
The State Commandant noted that the partnership between both organizations will enable the public understand the core duties of the Corps which includes ensuring security of lives and property and fostering peace and conflict resolution in civil matters.
Reuben said: “The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps is empowered to arrest, detain, investigate and prosecute in the name of the Attorney General of the federation anybody involved or suspected to be involved in any criminal matter. Then Section 3 subsection U and V further gives us plus one. That plus one is that we have power to mediate between two willing members of the public that have issues.
“This means the civil defense can mediate any civil matter and we have a unit for that, the peace and conflict resolution. So tell the public”.
He observed that most members of the public are unaware of the aspect of peace and conflict resolution of the Corps as to take advantage of it in resolving civil matters.
Earlier, Chairman of NIPR Rivers State, Rev. Francis Asuk fnipr said the purpose of the visit was to seek for partnership and area of collaboration with the commandant who recently resumed duties in Rivers State, and to explore areas of capacity building for the officers and men of the Corps as they need public relations skills in carrying out their duties.
Represented by the Vice Chairman of the chapter, Dr. Parry Saroh Benson, he asked that members of the Corps, especially those in the Public Relations unit, be allowed to identify and regularise their membership with the institute so they would get the requisite training and knowledge.
He also extended an invitation to the Commandant to the upcoming World Public Relations Conference which will hold in Abuja in November 2026, where public relations professionals from over 126 countries would be in Nigeria to chart a new course for Public Relations practice.
An invitation was also extended to the NSCDC for the upcoming Rivers Pubic Relations Week billed to hold from 7th- 9th October 2026.
The NSCDC boss pledged his support to the programmes and activities of the NIPR in the State and presented the enabling Act and other literature about the NSCDC.
Corps Commandant Dennis Lesor Reuben is from Baen town in Khana LGA, Rivers State and has a PhD in Human and Personnel Management.
He has served in 16 states across Nigeria in various capacities before resuming duties at the Rivers State command on 11th June, 2026. He is also an author of many books on security issues and contributed to many scholarly journals.
