General elections 2027: NSCDC officers get fit ahead of polls

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has heightened its personnel’s fitness and operational efficiency with a 10km route march.

Flagging off the exercise in Abuja, the FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said regular physical fitness exercises are vital to ensuring officers’ fitness, especially with the 2027 general elections around the corner.

In a statement, the command’s PRO, Monica Ojobi, said that the route march, which started from the FCT command headquarters to Berger, Wuye/Finance Bridge, Zone 3, through Wuse Market and then back to the command, drew personnel from the command headquarters, area commands and divisional offices.

The FCT Commandant stated that personnel’s fitness and readiness remained essential ahead of the 2027 elections, when officers would be required to support peaceful electoral processes, as well as protect lives and property.

He added that regular physical fitness is central to operational efficiency, as it enables personnel to respond effectively to security threats.

According to him, physical and mental fitness will ensure proper protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).

The FCT boss, who maintained that the exercise was also meant to promote teamwork, mental alertness and discipline while boosting personnel’s morale and operational capacity, said it is only an officer that is physically and mentally fit that can chase a criminal and succeed.

He stressed that the command is committed to ensuring that its officers remain prepared to discharge their responsibilities whenever called upon.

“Whatever assignment comes our way, my troops are always in high spirits and will deliver without failure,” Odumosu stated.

He described the exercise as part of broader preparedness efforts, adding that the command would sustain the initiative to keep personnel physically and mentally fit.

The commandant revealed that the corps has intensified its security operations across the FCT, including round-the-clock patrols aimed at curbing vandalism and other criminal activities.

He disclosed further that the command is extending its operations beyond the city centre to all six area councils, with a view to ensuring wider coverage and prompt responses to security threats.

“All of these activities are to make my personnel fit, motivated and operationally ready to justify public trust and resources,” he said.

The route march climaxed at the command’s headquarters with light aerobics, table tennis competition, tug-of-war, chair dance amongst others.