NSCDC Sets Security Strategy For Area Council Elections

With the February 21 Area Council elections fast approaching, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has outlined a comprehensive security roadmap aimed at ensuring a peaceful, credible and violence-free poll, while positioning the exercise as a major operational benchmark for its 2026 engagements.

The FCT Commandant of the Corps, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this during a strategic meeting with the Command’s management team, heads of departments and units, Area Commanders and Divisional Officers at the Command Headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, where the Command reviewed its 2025 operational performance and set priorities for the new year.

In a statement issued by DSC Monica Ojobi, FCT Command Public Relations Officer on Wednesday January 28, Odumosu used the forum to link the Command’s year-long anti-vandalism and intelligence operations to the credibility of the forthcoming local government polls, warning that security lapses during the elections would undermine the gains recorded so far.

According to him, the Command under his leadership recorded “tremendous advancement” across operational areas in 2025, pointing particularly to the unprecedented 24-hour patrols by the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) department, which led to multiple arrests of vandals and criminals targeting public infrastructure across the FCT.

He also acknowledged the role of intelligence officers and personnel in sensitive positions, noting that their efforts helped stabilise several security flashpoints within the territory.

However, he stressed that the persistence of criminal activity meant the Command could not afford complacency.

“There is still a lot to be done until criminals are flushed out completely from the FCT and its environs,” the Commandant said, and described it as a more demanding operational year ahead.

Odumosu said the Corps’ statutory mandate of protecting Critical National Assets and maintaining peace and order now places it at the heart of election security, describing the Area Council polls as a responsibility the Command “must get right.”

He directed senior officers to prioritise seamless coordination across all formations, warning that poor deployment or weak command structures could compromise the credibility of the elections.

He emphasised that the protection of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel, electoral materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, and voters before, during and after the polls was “non-negotiable.”

In a clear attempt to pre-empt allegations of bias or misconduct, the Commandant issued a firm warning on neutrality, professionalism and discipline, and reminded officers that election security management allows zero tolerance for corruption or compromise.

Odumosu noted that personnel currently undergoing election-related training with INEC were specifically urged to adhere strictly to INEC guidelines and the Corps’ operational protocols, while stressing that any deviation would attract sanctions.

The FCT Commandant challenged officers to see community engagement and intelligence gathering as central to crime prevention, not optional extras.

He instructed Area Commanders and Divisional Officers to deepen relationships with traditional rulers and community leaders within their jurisdictions, noting that credible intelligence and rapid response to distress calls remain the most effective tools against both violent crime and vandalism.

“We are a civil organisation, and it is expected of us to remain civil in our approaches and relationships with residents in order to achieve greater results,” he reminded officers.

Odumosu also linked professionalism to the Corps’ standing within the broader security architecture of the FCT, urging officers to imbibe integrity, civility, mental alertness and restraint, while avoiding both mediocrity and overzealousness in the discharge of their duties.

While commending personnel for their cooperation and commitment throughout 2025, he disclosed that the Command’s performance attracted commendation from the Commandant-General, Professor Ahmed Abubaker Audi, during a recent working visit, an endorsement he said must now translate into even higher standards in 2026.

Odumosu warned against violence and intimidation during the electioneering process, declaring that any attempt to disrupt the polls would be met with the full weight of the law.

He also appealed to residents of the FCT to support security agencies with timely and useful information, describing public cooperation as critical to delivering a peaceful, credible and hitch-free election.