Nigeria’s Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for its formal inclusion in the country’s constitution to resolve longstanding disputes over its authority and legitimacy. Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi emphasized the urgency of constitutional recognition during a South-South Zonal Public Hearing in Calabar, part of ongoing efforts to revise Nigeria’s 1999 constitution. Speaking through his representative, Assistant Commandant-General Ayinla Taiye Olowo, Audi highlighted systemic challenges faced by NSCDC personnel, including harassment, detention, and fatalities, as they carry out security duties critics argue fall exclusively under police jurisdiction.
Olowo noted that NSCDC officers are frequently questioned to prove the legal basis for their operations, despite sharing the broader mandate of safeguarding lives, property, and critical infrastructure. “Even as agencies with common goals, tensions arise when our constitutional footing is challenged,” he stated. The Corps argues that embedding its role in the constitution would not only validate its activities but also address recurrent debates over its potential merger with other security entities, which Audi asserts undermines operational efficiency.
Tracing its origins to a volunteer group formed during the Nigerian Civil War, the NSCDC evolved into a federal agency through a 2003 law. Recent national security frameworks, including the 2019 National Security Strategy and the 2024 Protection Policy for Critical Assets, have further expanded its responsibilities. Audi also acknowledged legislative milestones, such as the 2007 approval for personnel to carry arms, bolstered by training and equipment support from the Nigerian Army. Today, the Corps employs approximately 70,000 personnel.
Constitutional recognition, Audi stressed, would solidify the NSCDC’s legal standing amid Nigeria’s complex security landscape, where collaborative efforts among agencies remain critical. The appeal comes as lawmakers review constitutional amendments, offering a potential resolution to decades of institutional ambiguity.
