Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
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

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

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

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

Origins

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

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

Commandant General's Office

Directorates

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

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

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

Commandant-General

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

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

Officers

Rank group	Commandant cadre										Superintendent cadre
Nigeria SCDC
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
Nigeria SCDC	Chief Inspector	Deputy Chief Inspector	Assistant Chief Inspector	Principal Inspector	Senior Inspector		Inspector		Assistant Inspector		Corps Assistant I												Corps Assistant II						Corps Assistant III