Commandant of the Corps in Enugu State, Dr. Elijah Willie, made the call when the newly elected executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday.
He said lack of constitutional backing has made some security agencies look down on the Corps, and urged the media to amplify their call for inclusion in the ongoing constitution amendment process.
“You people should help us ensure that the National Security and Civil Defence Corps is recognized by the Constitution. The pen is mightier than the sword, and we know the power of the media. Through your write-ups and programmes, we can get the required recognition,” he said.
Willie, who promised to work closely with journalists, disclosed that he expanded the Command’s structure from 17 to 37 divisions and increased area commands from three to seven since assuming office last year.
“We are now prosecuting suspects in court and aggressively tackling vandals of public and private infrastructure across the state,” he added.
The Commandant also assured journalists of protection in the course of their duties, urging them to contact the Corps in any emergency.
“Call us anytime there’s a threat to your life or profession, we’ll respond swiftly,” he said.
Earlier, NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, said the visit was to strengthen the cordial relationship between the Corps and the media.
He raised concern over the growing infiltration of fake journalists, especially through social media, noting that the union was building a database to identify genuine practitioners.
“When the database is completed, we’ll be able to hand over impostors to security agencies for prosecution,” he said.
Ogbuka decried the abuse of press emblems by non-journalists to bypass security scrutiny, stressing that only journalists with valid NUJ identity cards and official emblems should be recognised.
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