The Abia State Government has commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for stepping up to strengthen security operations when the Nigeria Police Force withdrew officers from VIP protection duties.
Governor Alex Otti gave the commendation on Tuesday while declaring open a five-day strategic capacity-building workshop organised by the NSCDC in collaboration with the Abia State Government in Umuahia. The workshop, themed “Technological Advancement in Security Management, Intelligence, Investigation, Prosecution, Threat Assessment, the Use of Drones and Wireless Communication Network,” brought together officers from across the state to enhance their operational skills.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Navy Commodore MacDonald Uba retired, the governor praised the NSCDC for effectively filling the security gap created by the police withdrawal, noting that the corps had managed the situation professionally.
According to him, the collaborative efforts of all security agencies have made Abia one of the safest states in Nigeria and Africa, describing the achievement as a major milestone.
He reiterated Governor Otti’s commitment to ensuring that no part of Abia State is surrendered to criminals, stressing that security remains the foundation upon which development and economic progress are built.
Uba urged participants to take the workshop seriously, pointing out that many of them were attending in a representative capacity and would be expected to transfer the knowledge acquired to officers and personnel in their respective area commands and divisional offices.
He also expressed the hope that the Abia State Homeland Security Agency would participate in similar training programmes to further strengthen collaboration among security institutions operating in the state.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said his attendance was to demonstrate solidarity with the State Commandant, Chukwuemeka Odimba, and his team, while reaffirming the state government’s commitment to supporting agencies dedicated to protecting lives and property.
Nwachukwu described security service as more than a profession, urging officers to regard it as a divine calling. Reflecting on the NSCDC’s distinctive white uniform, he said it symbolised purity of heart and reminded officers that integrity, selflessness and accountability should define their service to humanity.
He noted that every public servant would ultimately be accountable before God, encouraging officers not to focus solely on salaries but on the lasting impact of their service to society. According to him, faithful service attracts rewards beyond material benefits and leaves a legacy for future generations.
He urged the personnel to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their responsibilities, praying that as they serve the people faithfully, God would continue to protect and reward them.
Also speaking, the Abia State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Commander of Narcotics Leonard Nnamdi, described the workshop as timely, noting that technological innovation has become indispensable in addressing today’s evolving security challenges.
He said the workshop’s focus on intelligence gathering, criminal investigation, prosecution, threat assessment, drone technology and wireless communication would bridge critical operational gaps confronting security agencies.
According to him, the fight against illicit drugs, organised crime and other security threats cannot be won by any single agency, stressing that inter-agency collaboration, information sharing and continuous capacity building remain essential to national security.
Nnamdi commended the NSCDC leadership in Abia State for organising the programme, expressing confidence that the practical knowledge participants would acquire would improve operational effectiveness and contribute to a safer Abia State.
He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to sustaining strong collaboration with the NSCDC and other sister agencies, adding that professionalism, technological adaptation and teamwork remain critical to safeguarding communities.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, represented by the Zonal Commander, Zone 5, Dr. Ahmed Ahmed Gandi, commended officers and men of the Abia State Command for their discipline, commitment and impressive turnout at the workshop.
Speaking with journalists after declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Commandant General, Dr. Gandi described the enthusiasm displayed by participants as an indication that the training would achieve its objectives.
He urged officers to ensure that the knowledge gained during the programme is transferred to personnel in their divisions, area commands and other formations to strengthen operational efficiency across the command.
Dr. Gandi reiterated that the NSCDC remains committed to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, emphasising that continuous training remains vital to enhancing professionalism and service delivery.
On the proposed establishment of state police, he cautioned against speculation, explaining that discussions were still ongoing at the appropriate level and that it would be premature to determine the role of the NSCDC until the Federal Government reaches a final decision.
Assessing the security situation in Abia and Imo States, the Zonal Commander said there had been significant improvement compared to previous years, attributing the progress to strong collaboration among the NSCDC, the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Navy, Air Force and other security agencies.
He also praised the Abia State Command under the leadership of Commandant Chukwuemeka Odimba, describing the command as hardworking and effective in protecting lives, property and critical national assets.
Earlier, the Abia State Commandant of the NSCDC, Chukwuemeka Odimba, said the workshop was designed to equip officers with modern security skills in intelligence gathering, criminal investigation, prosecution, threat assessment, drone technology and wireless communication.
He explained that participants included officers from all 17 divisional offices, the three area commands, intelligence and legal departments, operations units and other senior officers, adding that they would replicate the training in their various formations after the programme.
Odimba appreciated the Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for his leadership and continued provision of operational logistics, and commended Governor Alex Otti for supporting the workshop through investments in logistics, capacity building and inter-agency collaboration.
He noted that the global security environment continues to evolve rapidly, with criminals exploiting emerging technologies and sophisticated communication systems, making it imperative for security agencies to remain technologically driven and proactive.
According to him, the workshop was structured to expose officers to contemporary security strategies, including intelligence gathering and analysis, criminal investigation, prosecution, threat assessment, drone deployment and advanced communication systems.
He described drone technology as an essential tool for surveillance, border monitoring, disaster management, search-and-rescue operations and the protection of critical national assets, while stressing that modern wireless communication remains indispensable for effective command, coordinated operations and emergency response.
The State Commandant further emphasised that successful security operations depend on accurate intelligence gathering, timely analysis, thorough investigation and diligent prosecution of offenders.
He encouraged participants to actively engage with the resource persons and apply the practical knowledge acquired to improve professionalism and operational effectiveness across the command, noting that certificates issued after the training would also contribute to career development.
Odimba directed area commanders and divisional officers to organise similar training programmes within their jurisdictions to ensure the knowledge gained is cascaded throughout the command.
He further disclosed that newly recruited personnel would be deployed across the 17 local government areas of Abia State to strengthen grassroots security, improve intelligence gathering and enhance surveillance in both urban and rural communities.
The Commandant also revealed that the command’s Command and Control Centre is about 90 per cent completed, while commending the strong synergy among security agencies in the state, which he said has significantly contributed to sustaining peace and security.
He concluded by thanking Governor Alex Otti, the Commandant General, members of the organising committee, resource persons and other stakeholders for their support, expressing confidence that the workshop would further enhance the professional competence and operational efficiency of NSCDC personnel across Abia State.
