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Group Outline Audi’s Trajectory of Achievements and Challenges at NSCDC
A Civil Society, Non- Governmental Organisation(NGO), foremost anti-corruption, pro- democracy and pressure group, the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ), has applauded the transformation and performance indices engineered by the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi.
The CSO notes the internal processes for optimal performances; high morale of staff; enhanced surveillance on critical assets; prompt payment of allowances; discipline, and the good chain of command structure within the hierarchy of leadership. It also notes the transparency in procurement processes, including the bold initiatives and innovations that have bolstered the NSCDC into a 21st century paramilitary organisation.
The CSO’s Country Representative, President and Senior Research Fellow, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, made the commendation in Lagos recently, when he attended a strategic round-table Town Hall with other leaders in South-west zone, according to a press statement he personally signed.
The statement alluded to the salient milestones and achievements of the present leadership of the NSCDC in the delivery of good corporate governance and professionalism to drive the changes that are glaring.
According to Aigbegbele, never before have those improvements been seen in the history of the Agency despite the enormous challenges confronting it
The statement emphasises that issues such as the reduction of the incessant herders and farmers’ clashes, cattle rustling, the deployment of undercover officers to schools, the reduction of criminal vandals on national assets across the country and the robust inter-agency relationships, cooperation and partnerships with sister agencies such as the Navy, Army, Customs, Immigration, NNPC, etc, most of which have become a thing of the past.
In furtherance of the present efforts, the continued fight against cyber-crimes, child abuse, flushing out of illegal private guard companies, the arrest of smugglers, vandals and pipeline, oil thieves in the Niger Delta region has become a herculean task that must be nipped in the bud. And the present management is working assiduously round the clock to deal decisively with these challenges once and for all.
According to the statement, Dr. Audi has given marching orders to the State Commandants and also read riot acts to them reminding them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has zero-tolerance for corruption and theft and as such directed the commandants to do all they can in line with the presidential order to rid the nation’s oil sector of economic saboteurs, vandals on critical national assets, oil thieves, and other criminal activities inimical to the growth of the sector and Nigeria at large.
The statement also emphasised the efforts and challenges of the mining marshals and agro- rangers’ initiatives to boost food security in order to make food available and allow farmers to go about their businesses in their respective farmlands with the full support of the rangers.
GOCMEJ, of course, agrees that the mining sector is a vital component of the economy as the mining marshals are doing everything within their power to curb the excesses of illegal miners across the length and breadth of the country which pose a threat to national security.
Accordingly, the Corps has been very formidable in dislodging illegal miners by conducting surveillance 24/7 hours and arresting illegality and hence promoting economic growth and saving the country massive revenue loss.
The creation of the Special Mining Marshals by the Audi-led management is indeed a major boost to the fight against illegal miners in the country and has been applauded by well-meaning Nigerians for their selfless efforts in combating the menace head-on which has reduced their activities thereby increasing the revenue base of the country and as well as, improving investors’ confidence in the mineral sector.
Also, with the establishment of the Special Female Squad (SFS) under the present leadership, targeted at boosting the fight against insecurity and kidnapping in our schools, the location of the Squad in all the Commands across the country has enhanced the safe school response coordination and the protection of schools in remote areas and communities, which is done in collaboration with sister agencies as part of the Safe School Initiative (SSI).
In view of the foregoing, GOCMEJ hereby calls on the Federal Government to adequately fund these initiatives through training and retraining of officers, the building and enhancement of capacity development of the Agro- rangers, Mining Marshals and Special Female Squad, so as to boost their productivity, self-esteem and manpower development for the collective good of all. Therefore, GOCMEJ further advocates for a renewed vigour as it urges the increment of the national budget allocations to the NSCDC, in view of the pivotal role it plays in the protection of critical national assets in addition to reducing kidnapping in schools. If these initiatives are properly funded, it will give the NSCDC the impetus to do more for the nation and its work force.
GOCMEJ reiterates that it is encouraged by the public procurement process, contract approvals and payments, the espirit-de-corps of the NSCDC officers and men, including the promotion of officers never before seen in its annals of history which figures stood at about 21,385 personnel to new ranks, the commissioning of fleets of operational vehicles to enhance patrol and surveillance around critical national assets is also a welcome development.
The Guild again applauds the transformation presently on-going and change narrative including strategic alliances with various ivory towers across the country to upgrade the service institutions to meet with what is attainable globally.
The release will, accordingly, amply captures that henceforth “GOCMEJ will continue to support the corps in its efforts to tackle bandits, herders, vandals, illegal miners and promote a safe and secured environment for all”.
The organisation further adds that “the efforts of the NSCDC in playing critical role in securing the mining sector, school environment from kidnappers and protection of farmlands and agro- allied investments are in line with the vision of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s Renew Hope Agenda, which is aimed at diversifying the economy, promoting growth and securing the nation for investors”.
GOCMEJ, therefore, has no hesitation in passing a Vote of Confidence on the Dr. Abubakar Audi- led management and calls on the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to continually support the proactive and change leadership to enable it further its commitment to securing the nation, safeguarding our schools and deliver its mandate to Nigerians.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression.
SERAP is seeking a court order compelling Akpabio to reverse the six-month suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative privileges. The organization also wants an injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions against her for expressing her views.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after she reportedly spoke without permission and rejected a new seat assignment in the Senate chamber. As part of her suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying as a senator.
In its suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP contends that the suspension deprives Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents of political representation. The organization also argues that penalizing a senator for exercising free speech creates a chilling effect on other lawmakers.
“No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” SERAP stated. “The Senate should uphold the rule of law and protect human rights, not suppress them.”
The group cites constitutional provisions and international human rights treaties, including Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
SERAP maintains that the Senate Standing Orders cannot override constitutional guarantees of free speech. The lawsuit emphasizes that restricting a senator’s expression undermines democracy and violates Nigerians’ right to receive information and participate politically.
No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, hundreds of members of market associations and numerous women groups in Kaduna state at the weekend, occupied Kaduna metropolis in a peaceful demonstration where they reiterated their loyalty and support to the administration of
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters who alleged that they had bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, said they would remain where Governor Uba Sani stood and advised the citizens of Kaduna not to be deceived by doing the contrary.
They recounted their ordeals during the 8 years of the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of market shops belonging to individuals were either seized, demolished or confiscated, a situation that triggered ill health in many traders and business owners leading to paralysis and multiple deaths of their colleagues.
“We’ve been in the market for over 40 years and have never experienced the kind of set backs we suffered under the previous Governor.”
“A lot of lives were lost,a lot of finances were ruined by reason of his kind of policies. We are here to speak with one voice and say that anything that would kind of revive such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t want it,” Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, has said.
He explained that “this incumbent Governor began by healing the wounds, the wounds that were really severed by the former Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing so,so very well and that’s why we’ve been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who like Governor Sani,has been charting the right course, ensuring programmes and plans that will heal these wounds .”
He said there was never been a time they are having the impact of leadership in Kaduna market, like they are having now.
” Now we’ve lots of incentives, lots of policies that are driving us to progress .We are now standing with one voice to denounce anything that would reverse this,” he said.
Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, Chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, said on behalf of their leader,Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all trader leaders in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, they have gathered to unilaterally declare an unalloyed support to Governor Uba Sani who had taken care of them and protected their interests.
According to him,” we have to say so,haven had the harrowing experience in the hands of the past administration. The scar still remains and many are yet to recover.”
“But when Almighty Allah sent Governor Uba Sani to us,he declared he would not do anything bad to traders because the world thrives on businesses.All the most cherished countries like China, Canada, UAE, India,are very proud of and supportive to their traders and other business persons.”
“Unfortunately, we found ourselves during the previous administration that neither showed empathy nor sympathy to traders. An approximate number of 36 markets were demolished at that time.None of these markets was completely rebuild ,till date,and we are suspicious of the collaboration between the previous administration and the market developers.”
“We are therefore calling on Governor Uba Sani, our Governor of sympathy and understanding, to look at this issue with a view to resolving it.We are with Uba Sani a hundred percent, ” he added.
Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz,a woman leader of the market association,said they have gathered in multitudes to reiterate their support to the APC and Governor Uba Sani who has tremendously supported the market men and women in Kaduna State.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria, stating that criminal elements have infiltrated royal institutions. He lamented that individuals with questionable backgrounds, including drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers, now hold positions of authority as traditional rulers.
Obasanjo made these remarks in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled last week. He criticized the rapid increase in traditional rulers, many of whom, he claimed, lack the training and moral integrity required for the role. According to him, this deterioration has weakened the institution’s ability to contribute positively to the nation’s socio-political stability.
“Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers,” Obasanjo stated, stressing that some have abandoned their cultural responsibilities and engaged in misconduct. He cited an example of a monarch allegedly involved in electoral malpractice, questioning the moral integrity of such leaders.
“How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?” he queried.
Reflecting on the past, Obasanjo noted that traditional rulers once commanded immense respect, especially during colonial and early post-independence eras. However, he said, their influence has been diluted due to the lack of proper training and moral reformation.
“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour, and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted,” he remarked.
Calling for urgent reforms, the former president stressed the need to restore the lost dignity of traditional leadership. He emphasized that rather than being a liability, traditional rulers should play a vital role in national development.
“That dignity, aura, and respect should be brought back, and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness, not a liability,” he asserted.
Obasanjo further called for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those from historically significant institutions. He maintained that if properly positioned, they could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s long-term progress.
“There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers—the ancient and historic ones. They can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all,” he concluded.
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