Section 3: Functions of the Corps and its affiliation with international organisation.

(1) The Corps shall-
(a) assist in the maintenance of peace and order and also in the protection and rescuing of the civil population during the period of emergency;
(b) recommend to the Minister the registration of private guard companies;
(c)
from time to time, inspect the premises of private guard companies, their training facilities and approve same if it is up to standard;
(d)
supervise and monitor the activities of all private guard command and keep a register for that purposes-
(i) periodically organise workshops and training courses for private guard companies, and
(ii) seal up any private guard company which operates without valid licence;
(e)
maintain twenty-four hours surveillance over infrastructures, sites and projects for the Federal, States and Local Governments-
(i) enter and search any premises and seize any material suspected to have been used in vandalisation or suspected process of vandalisation;
(ii) enter and search premises of any suspected illegal dealer in petroleum products or material used by Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Postal Services, Nigeria Telecommunication or for any other public utility or infrastructure;
(f)
have power to arrest, with or without a warrant, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings by or in the name of the Attorney-General of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against any person who is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act or is involved in any-
(i) criminal activity;
(ii) chemical poisoning or oil spillage nuclear waste, poisoning;
(iii) industrial espionage or fraud;
(iv) activity aimed at frustrating any government programme or policy;
(v) riot, civil disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest; or
(vi) power transmission lines and oil pipelines, NIPOST cables, equipment, Water Board pipes or equipment vandalisation;
(g) monitor the activities of religious bodies and trade associations;
(h) monitor, investigate and take every necessary step to forestall any planned act of terrorism particularly-
(i) cult and ethnic militia activities,
(ii) criminal activity aimed at depriving citizens of their properties or lives; or
(iii) syndicate activity aimed at defrauding the Federal, State or Local Government;
(i) monitor, investigate and take every necessary step to forestall any act of terrorism and report same to appropriate Federal security agency;
(j) provide necessary warning for the civilian population in times of danger;
(k) evacuate the civilian population from danger areas;
(l) provide and manage shelters for civilians during any period of emergency;
(m) assist in the decontamination and in the taking of precautionary measures during any period of emergency;
(n) carry out rescue operations and control volatile situations;
(o) assist in the provisions of emergency medical services, including first-aid, during any period of emergency;
(p) detect and demarcate any danger area;
(q) assist the Federal and State Fire Services in fire-fighting operations;
(r) assist in the distribution of emergency supplies;
(s) provide assistance to restore and maintain order in distressed areas in any period of emergency;
(t) assist in repairing indispensable public utilities during any period of emergency;
(u)
provide intelligence information to the Ministry on any matter relating to;
(i) crime control generally;
(ii) riot, disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest;
(iii) subversive activity by members of the public aimed at frustrating any Government programme or policy;
(iv) industrial action and strike aimed at paralysing Government activities; and
(v) any other matter as may be directed by the Minister, and
(vi) have power to arrange and mediate in the settlement of disputes among willing members of the public.
[2007 No. 73, s. 1.]
(2) The Corps shall change from present observer's status in the International Civil Defence Organisation (I.C.D.O.) to full member immediately after the commencement of this Act by fulfilling all conditions including payment of membership dues.
(3)
For the purposes of efficiently carrying out the functions set out in section 3 of this Act, the Corps shall maintain an armed squad which shall be entitled to bear firearms and be deployed by the Office of the Commandant-General.
[2007 No. 73, s. 1.]