The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 25,000 of its personnel to ensure the protection of lives and critical infrastructure across the nation during the Yuletide season.

NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, stated this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

Audi said that the deployed officers and men of the corps drawn from several tactical units, would be on active surveillance to ensure that citizens celebrate the festive season without fear.

“I would like to assure Nigerians that the corps will come out massively to ensure they provide safety for Nigerians.

“In collaboration with sister agencies, we will ensure to secure citizens while they have fun, especially at entertainment centres.

“We want this period to be devoid of crisis or any unfortunate scene that could cause confusion,” he said.

The commandant general warned that the corps was poised to deal with any citizen who may have the intention of causing mayhem during the yuletide season.

In Lagos State, the NSCDC deployed 2,500 personnel to ensure maximum security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Spokesperson for the NSCDC, Seun Abolurin, said this in a statement on Friday, in Lagos.

The personnel are drawn from Operations, Intelligence and Investigation Departments, as well as Anti–vandal, Armed Squad and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives Units.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC said it deployed 2,345 personnel to protect all critical national assets and infrastructure across the State within the period.

The State NSCDC Commandant, Rivers State Command, Basil Igwebueze, in a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Olufemi Ayodele, disclosed this on Friday.

Igwebueze stated that the deployment was in response to the security challenges within the festive period.

In another development, the Kaduna State Police Command says it has beefed up security to safeguard lives and property merry makes during and after the Christmas celebration in the state.

A statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan on Friday, said it had deployed regular and Mobile Policemen to all the nooks and crannies of the state to ensure water-tight security during and after the festive periods.

The command assured the people of the state of its readiness to swiftly respond to distressed calls whenever the need arises.

It also warned that it would deal decisively with any individuals or group that attempted to disrupt the relative peace in the state.

In Sokoto State, as part of preparations towards a safe yuletide celebration, the Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto State command has deployed human and material resources at the Command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the state.

The deployment, according to a statement made available to newsmen by the command’s spokesman, Ahmed Rufai, is characterised by visibility policing at various places of worship, event centres, and raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings and shanties.