From a plethora of achievements and milestones—despite daunting challenges and shortcomings—the foresight, vision, and focused leadership of the present administration have transformed and repositioned the Service like never before in its history. In spite of limited funding and other grey areas yet to be addressed, the leadership has successfully turned around the narrative through deliberate rebranding efforts since assuming office.
Staff welfare remains paramount to the Commandant-General, who has consistently prioritized boosting esprit de corps and high personnel morale through the prompt payment of salaries, allowances, and other official entitlements as and when due. The leadership has also entrenched core values of integrity, intelligence-based security response systems, and professionalism across all operations. These measures have significantly reduced the activities of criminals, vandals, kidnappers, herdsmen, and illegal miners across the country.
In a press release signed by Mahmud Bello, Director of Media and Stakeholders Engagement of the Citizen Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI) in Kaduna State, the organization stated that the paramilitary agency has demonstrated genuine commitment to the interest of Nigerians through its open-door policy and robust engagement with its various publics. This approach has greatly reduced threats and disaster incidences nationwide through professional intelligence gathering, investigation, information sharing, manpower development, and strong collaboration with sister agencies—leading to remarkable improvement in disaster management as first responders.
Accordingly, transparency, accountability, and good governance have remained at the forefront of the present administration’s transformational philosophy. This has resulted in far-reaching reforms, including the regulation of private security companies, the introduction of Mining Marshals to secure strategic mining sites nationwide, containment of vandalism of critical national assets, reduction of oil theft in the Niger Delta region, and the assumption of VIP protocol protection responsibilities. These achievements surpass those of previous administrations and mark a significant milestone in the Service’s evolution.
CWAI authoritatively confirmed that the present management has introduced comprehensive institutional reforms that have repositioned the Service for greater productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in delivering its mandate of safeguarding lives, property, and critical national assets—thereby reducing criminal activities and enhancing national security.
The Commandant-General, Professor Abubakar Ahmad Audi, reiterated that the reforms introduced align with his vision to upgrade the operational machinery of the Corps. He noted that the reorganization and revitalization of the training department are aimed at sharpening the skills and competencies of personnel to effectively address contemporary security challenges posed by hoodlums, bandits, kidnappers, and insurgents.
The establishment of the Mining Marshals and the Special Female Squad (SFS) are novel initiatives and the first of their kind in the history of the Corps. In response to the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative, the NSCDC conducted audits and surveys of schools nationwide and developed a framework for proactive security measures to address the persistent attacks on educational institutions. These squads, like the Mining Marshals, are strengthening partnerships with local communities and stakeholders while prioritizing surveillance and monitoring to curb violent attacks and criminal activities.
The statement further emphasized that the Directorate of Legal Services has been reinvigorated and strengthened with enhanced prosecutorial competence, improving law enforcement and accountability. Similarly, the Anti-Vandal Unit has undergone major reforms and has been strategically deployed across the South-South geopolitical zone to curb pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and destruction of critical national assets. Over 2,500 suspects have been arrested since the beginning of the year for offences ranging from vandalism and attacks on national infrastructure to cattle rustling, banditry, attacks on farmers and farmlands, and illegal mining.
The Commandant-General attributed these successes to effective inter-agency collaboration, synergy, and partnerships, calling for comprehensive manpower development within the national security architecture.
Sports have also received significant attention under the present leadership, with officers and men of the NSCDC winning numerous laurels and trophies in various sporting engagements. All personnel, regardless of rank, have been provided with insurance cover against accidents, disability, or death in the course of duty. The Commandant-General views sports as a unifying platform that promotes wellness, camaraderie, information sharing, and mutual trust among paramilitary agencies.
CWAI further noted that the crackdown on illegal mining activities has saved the economy substantial revenue losses, while the destruction of over 450 illegal refineries has reduced oil theft. Additionally, the arrest of suspects and recovery of critical assets and railway materials valued at over ₦5 billion represent major milestones of the Service.
The organization therefore endorsed the change mantra of the Audi-led management and expressed confidence in the present leadership, noting that Nigerians are proud of its achievements despite prevailing challenges.
CWAI urged personnel to remain good ambassadors of the Corps—incorruptible and aligned with international best security practices wherever they serve. Nigerians were also encouraged to support the management in strengthening efforts against vandals and criminals nationwide.
The organization appealed to corporate bodies and public-spirited individuals to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly efforts to modernize the NSCDC through funding, partnerships, manpower development, capacity building, and the acquisition of modern security equipment.
Finally, CWAI emphasised the need for increased national budgetary allocation to the NSCDC in view of its critical role in the nation’s security architecture, including its added responsibility of VIP protocol protection. It also called for the entrenchment of a standard training curriculum to enhance career progression, effective supervision, and transparent regulation of Private Guard Companies across the country.