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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February this year, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has charged its personnel to show renewed zeal toward improved service delivery and commitment to conducting credible elections in the FCT.
Addressing officers on the forthcoming polls, FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, told them that although the command performed creditably in past years, there is still a lot to be done until criminals are flushed out completely from the FCT and its environs.
“Our intelligence operatives and many of you holding sensitive positions also gave commendable accounts of yourselves last year, but there is still a lot to be done until criminals are flushed out completely from the FCT.
“Through your relentless efforts, the command under my watch has witnessed tremendous advancement in all spheres of our operations, and the unprecedented 24-hour patrols by the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) department have resulted in several arrests of vandals and criminals destroying public infrastructure in the FCT,” he said.
In a statement, the FCT Commandant hinted that, apart from its core mandate of protecting critical national assets and maintaining peace and order in collaboration with other security agencies, the corps, as a major stakeholder in election security, will be participating actively in the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February.
To this end, he urged all senior officers to ensure proper coordination of staff across the command’s formations in order to achieve free, fair, credible and violence‑free Area Council elections. He added that the responsibility of protecting Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff, sensitive and non‑sensitive materials, and the electorate before, during and after the election is non‑negotiable.
The FCT Commandant urged his officers and men to be neutral, non‑partisan and uncompromising during the electioneering period, calling on all officers currently undergoing training with FCT INEC to commit to INEC’s rules and regulations and the corps’ standard protocols on election security management, which stipulate zero tolerance for corruption and compromise.
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He told his personnel that for the corps to remain relevant in the security architecture of the FCT, they must go the extra mile and imbibe the culture of professionalism, civility, integrity and mental alertness needed to stay ahead of criminals at all times.
The FCT helmsman urged his Area Commanders and Divisional Officers to remain on top of their game by ensuring that their jurisdictions are properly covered through intensified surveillance, close relationships with traditional rulers and communities for increased credible intelligence gathering, and prompt response to distress calls.
“We are a civil organisation; hence, it is expected of us to remain civil in our approaches and relationships with residents in order to achieve greater results, tackle sensitive and non‑sensitive security matters as well as curb vandalism in the FCT,” he said.
He commended his personnel for their cooperation and commitment throughout 2025, which attracted the Commandant‑General’s commendation during his recent working visit to the command.
The commandant charged them on the need to remain determined and not renege on their commitment to protecting lives and securing CNAI in the FCT.
“You must refrain from mediocrity and over‑zealousness, but remain committed to justifying the responsibility bestowed on us by government with improved appetite for results. Therefore, whatever you are assigned to do, I urge you to do it well with renewed zeal and passion for the job.
“So much is expected of us in the new year and we must not disappoint the people and our government, servicing us from time to time with taxpayers’ money,” the commandant warned.
