Investigation Reveals NSCDC’s 63,000 Workforce Cannot Meet VIP Protection Demands
Following the recent presidential directive withdrawing all police personnel attached for the protection of Very Important Persons (VIPs) nationwide, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) must urgently embark on massive recruitment of staff, especially specialised manpower to meet up with the presidential task, BBlueprint ‘sfindings have revealed.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, last week, directed the immediate withdrawal of police personnel assigned to political office holders and influential individuals across the country.
The Presidency said the move was part of a broader national security plan aimed at improving police efficiency and reinforcing public safety.
According to a statement signed by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who still required security protection will now be mandated to request for armed escorts from the NSCDC.
In line with the presidential directive, over 11,000 police personnel attached to the VIPs have so far been withdrawn to step up security in both the rural and urban centres.
Our investigations also showed that the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, were in the process of submitting a proposal for urgent increase in the Corps’ workforce.
…NSCDC Act
Blueprint.ngalso sought to know what the mandates of the NSCDC entails.
The Corps’ website says: “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) derives its legal powers from the NSCDC Act No. 2 of 2003 and the Amendment Act No. 6 of 2007. These Acts establish the Corps as a statutory paramilitary agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, clearly defining its functions, responsibilities, and authority in the protection of lives, property, and critical national assets.”
It listed the key Provisions of the Act to include;
Establishment and Recognition:
The Act formally establishes the Corps as a Federal Government Paramilitary Agency under the Ministry of Interior.
It grants the Corps authority to operate throughout the federation and to collaborate with other security and law enforcement agencies.
Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure: The Corps is mandated to protect all public utilities and infrastructure, including oil pipelines, power stations, water resources, telecommunications, and transport networks.
Disaster and Emergency Management: The Act empowers the Corps to provide relief, rescue, and rehabilitation during natural or man-made disasters, working in partnership with relevant agencies.
Crime Prevention, Arrest, and Prosecution: Officers of the Corps are empowered 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.
The Act empowers the Corps to bear arms in the discharge of its lawful duties.
Regulation of Private Guard Companies: The Corps is the sole regulatory body for Private Guard Companies (PGCs) in Nigeria.
It licenses, supervises, and ensures compliance with operational standards by PGCs.
Training and Civil Protection: The Act mandates the Corps to train civilians in civil defence, emergency response, crisis management, and conflict resolution.
It strengthens the Corps’ role in educating the public on safety and resilience measures.
…Findings
Checks by Blueprint.ng newspapers, however, revealed that the NSCDC, which is the agency of resort, does not have up to 100,000 personnel, a figure that is about the same with the number of expected police personnel to be withdrawn from various VIPs nationwide.
Specifically, the NSCDC presently has a 63,000 workforce, a figure some analysts say, is too meager for a nation struggling with its security challenges.
A top management staff of the Corps, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told ourBlueprint.ngcorrespondent that the directive is a testimony to President Tinubu’s implicit confidence in the capacity and dedication of NSCDC officers and men.
He, however, said: “The Corps can only carry out the national task effectively with the judicious enlistment of more officers, coupled with the provision of specialised training, and equipping them with state-of-the-art tools and logistics.”
The source added that NSCDC leadership recognises that the new critical tasks require a proportionate increase in specialised manpower.
Asked how the Corps was really going about it, he said: “I can tell you for free that the Honourable Minister of Interior and the Commandant General (CG) are currently engaged in intensive, strategic deliberations to finalise a comprehensive plan.
“This plan includes presenting a proposal to the Presidency very soon to seek approval for the immediate recruitment and enlistment of more specialised personnel into the Corps.
“The curriculum is being expanded and intensified to cover modern protection techniques, threat assessment, and crisis management, ensuring our personnel are at par with global standards.
“Sincerely, I want to assure the Nigerian public that the NSCDC is not starting from a vacuum.”
…What NSCDC desires – Security expert
And in an interview withBlueprint, a security expert and retired Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Barrister Mike Ejiofor, said the NSCDC is not currently prepared for the new role carved out for it by the president.
Ejiofor, when asked to give his assessment on the new directive, said: “As it is currently constituted, the NSCDC does not have capacity to carry out the function of protecting the numerous VIPs we have in Nigeria. The mandate of NSCDC includes the protection of National Assets and Critical infrastructure, among others, but not including protection of VIPs.
“Therefore, because it is a presidential directive, they have to be properly equipped and well-trained for this new task.”
On whether the police authority has complied with the President’s order, the security expert said: “No. I must say that the President’s directive has not been totally obeyed by the Police because so many policemen are still out there following VIPs about.”
When contacted on phone to know how the NSCDC is prepared to carry out the new task, the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale, said his organisation already operates “a robust and effective VIP Protection Unit, which is actively working round the clock to ensure continuous, high-level training for our officers and men. We are ready to deliver on our promise of a safer Nigeria. This is a presidential directive and we must comply.”
…‘Report VIPs with escorts ’
And as a further demonstration of the directive, the Presidency has called on Nigerians to play an active role in monitoring and reporting violations of President Tinubu’s directive on the withdrawal of police escorts attached to the VIPs.
Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, Daniel Bwala, stated this Sunday during an interview on TVC.
Bwala said: “If you identify a celebrity, a private sector person, or any individual who has police against the executive order of the president, as much as you can, capture evidence, whether a photograph or video.”
On those affected, the presidential aide said: “The order of the president to withdraw police from VIPs is not all-encompassing. There are critical people in government who will still have one form of security or another.”
He further clarified that where it becomes important for the affected persons to have escorts, such can be provided by other security agencies.
“It could be SSS, Civil Defence, and not the police who will be there to help you. But the police have no business being with you,” Bwala said.
…CDCFIB Board releases promotion
Meanwhile, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) have announced the promotion of 242,202 senior officers across the four paramilitary agencies.
The Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board, Mr Tunji-Ojo, revealed this while addressing newsmen Monday in Abuja.
The minister represented by the Secretary to the board, Abdulmalik Jubril, said the promotion marked the second batch of the board’s senior officers’ promotion in 2025.
The four paramilitary agencies under the board are: Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and the NSCDC.
Tunji-Ojo said of the 24,202 promoted officers; NCoS had 11,426, NIS: 4,336, FFS: 2,581 while 5,859 were elevated in the NSCDC.
“The promotion was based on various parameters which included national spread, good records, ratification, performance and vacancy availability,” he said.
The minister stated that the promotion was aimed at boosting the morale of personnel to ensure proper service delivery in their prospective agencies.
He said that this was in accordance to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure the wellbeing of serving personnel.
“In recent past promotion had been stagnant but this administration is dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of personnel to tackle insecurity bedeviling the country.
“Among the several incentives brought to the ministry this is particularly worthy of note,” the minister said.