Ben Ezechime, Enugu
A retired Assistant Commandant General (ACG) of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edwin Ugwuja, has advised the Federal Government to recruit more personnel for the corps to enable it effectively discharge its expanding responsibilities.
Ugwuja gave the advice in an interview with journalists in Enugu, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive assigning the NSCDC the responsibility of taking over VIP protection duties across the country.
He said the corps was currently understaffed and ill-equipped to cope with the additional responsibility.
“The Federal Government, through the management of the corps, should as a matter of urgency recruit more hands, especially now that the NSCDC has been given additional responsibilities.
“VIP protection is not a tea party; it is a huge task,” Ugwuja said.
According to him, while over 100,000 police officers are involved in VIP protection operations nationwide, the entire NSCDC workforce is below 80,000 operatives, a situation he described as inadequate.
He also urged the management of the NSCDC to recall some retired gallant officers to support the corps in the interim.
“They can be recalled on a contract basis, maybe for three years or less. I know some retired officers who are highly trained and still very gallant, and they can help to complement the situation,” he said.
On the broader challenge of insecurity, Ugwuja called on citizens to support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence.
“It behooves citizens to give security agencies actionable, reliable and trustworthy intelligence. Without it, you cannot achieve your security objectives,” he said.
The retired ACG noted that combating asymmetric warfare was particularly difficult without accurate intelligence but expressed optimism that Nigeria would ultimately overcome its security challenges.
