Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

Nigerian paramilitary agency

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

Active| May 1967 – present
Country|  Nigeria
Type|

* Gendarmerie

Role|

* Internal security
* Special operations support

Size| 80,000
Part of| Abuja
Nickname(s)| NSCDC

Military unit

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is a paramilitary agency in Nigeria, established in 1967 and formally recognized by an Act of Parliament in 2003. The Corps is tasked with protecting lives and properties in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, as well as safeguarding critical national infrastructure. The NSCDC plays a vital role in crisis management, disaster response, and security enforcement.

It is also involved in intelligence gathering, combating vandalism, illegal bunkering, pipeline protection, and ensuring the safety of citizens. The NSCDC conducts operations across the country and works closely with other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order.[1]

## Duties

[edit]

The primary function of the NSCDC is to protect lives and properties.[2] One of the crucial function of the Corps is to protect pipelines from vandalism.[3] The agency is also involved in crisis resolutions.[4]

Many states now recognise the impact of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps with continuous collaboration to ensure maximum security.[citation needed]

### Powers

[edit]

The Corps is empowered to institute legal proceedings of the Attorney General in accordance with the provisions of the constitution against any person or persons suspected to have committed an offence, maintain an armed squad in order to bear fire arms among others to strengthen the corps in the discharge of its statutory duties.

## History

[edit]

### Origins

[edit]

The NSCDC was first introduced in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then Federal Capital Territory of Lagos for the purpose of sensitization and protection of the civil populace. It was then known as Lagos Civil Defence Committee.

It later metamorphosed into the present day NSCDC in 1970. On inception, the Corps had the objective of carrying out some educational and enlightenment campaigns in and around the Federal Capital of Lagos to sensitize members of the civil populace on enemy attacks and how to save themselves from danger as most Nigerians living in and around Lagos territory then had little or no knowledge about war and its implications. Members of the Committee deemed it important to educate through electronic and print media on how to guide themselves during air raids, bomb attacks, identify bombs and how to dive into trenches during bomb blast.

In 1984, the Corps was transformed into a National security outfit and in 1988, there was a major re-structuring of the Corps that led to the establishment of Commands throughout the Federation, including Abuja, and the addition of special functions by the Federal Government.

### Statutory backing

[edit]

On 28 June 2003, an act to give statutory backing to the NSCDC passed by the National Assembly was signed into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The act was amended in 2007 to enhance the statutory duties of the corp.[5]

## Organization structure

[edit]

* Commandant General's Office

### Directorates

[edit]

* Directorate of Administration
* Directorate of Disaster Management
* Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation
* Directorate of Operations
* Directorate of Technical Service
* Directorate of Critical Infrastructure and National Assets

### Zones

[edit]

* Zone A
* Lagos State Command

* Zone B
* Kaduna State Command
* Kano State Command
* Katsina State Command
* Jigawa State Command

* Zone C

* Zone D
* Niger State Command
* Zamfara State Command
* Sokoto State Command
* Kebbi State Command
* Kwara State Command
* Zone E
* Imo State Command
* Abia State Command
* Akwa Ibom Command
* Cross River State Command
* Ebonyi State Command
* Enugu State Command
* Rivers State Command
* Zone F
* Ogun State Command
* Osun State Command
* Ekiti State Command
* Ondo State Command
* Oyo State Command
* Zone G
* Edo State Command
* Anambra State Command
* Delta State Command
* Bayelsa State Command
* Zone H
* Benue State Command
* Nassarawa State Command
* Plateau State Command
* Taraba State Command
* Kogi State Command

### Institutions

[edit]

* Civil Defence Academy, Sauka
* College of Peace and Disaster Management, Katsina
* College of Security Management, Ogun State

## Commandant-General

[edit]

The Commandant-General is the professional head of the NSCDC. The title has existed since 2004. The role is held by a General who is assisted by a Deputy Commandant General and an Assistant Commandant General.[6]

### List of Commandants-General

[edit]

* Abiola Aturamu (2004–2005)
* Adewale John Abolurin (2005–2015)[7]
* Abdullahi Gana Mahammadu (2015 – February 2021)[8][9]
* Ahmed Abubakar Audi (since February 2021)[10]

## Ranks

[edit]

Officers
Rank group  | Commandant cadre  | Superintendent cadre

|
|

Nigeria SCDC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commandant General  | Deputy Commandant General  | Assistant Commandant General  | Commandant  | Deputy Commandant  | Assistant Commandant  | Senior Superintendent  | Chief Superintendent  | Superintendent  | Deputy Superintendent  | Assistant Superintendent I  | Assistant Superintendent II  |

Other ranks
Rank group  | Inspector cadre  | Assistant cadre

|
|

Nigeria SCDC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Chief Inspector  | Deputy Chief Inspector  | Assistant Chief Inspector  | Principal Inspector  | Senior Inspector  | Inspector  | Assistant Inspector  | Corps Assistant I  | Corps Assistant II  | Corps Assistant III

## See also

[edit]

* National Guard of Russia
* Internal Troops
* National Gendarmerie
* Civil Guard (Spain)
* People's Armed Police

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Minister Writes VP, NSA over IGP's Call to Scrap NSCDC, Articles – THISDAY LIVE". Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
2. ^ "Civil Defence wants synergy on counter-terrorism". Vanguard News. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
3. ^ "New Telegraph – Police, NSCDC battle over oil pipelines". Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
4. ^ "NSCDC Hosts Peace Dialogue in North-East". Archived from the original on 18 August 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
5. ^ "Why we deserve to be armed-NSCDC". Vanguard News. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
6. ^ "Commandant General". nscdc.gov.ng. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
7. ^ Admin (19 July 2016). "ABOLURIN, Dr. John Adewale". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
8. ^ "Current Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps". Retrieved 26 November 2020.
9. ^ "Buhari appoints new heads for civil defence, correctional service". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
10. ^ "Fuel scarcity: NSCDC warns against hoarding products". Vanguard News. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website Archived 13 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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