Yemi Obafemi
Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, has unveiled a Special Bodyguard/VIP Protection Unit in the Corps.
Audi disclosed this at the passing-out ceremony of over 501 personnel of the Corps chosen from all state commands across the federation.
According to the CG, the new unit is expected to ensure the safety and security of prominent individuals who are at a higher risk of facing threats due to the position they hold in the country.
The Corps which had undergone rigorous proficiency training at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja, the CG charged them to discharge their duties professionally, warning against acts that will destroy the image of Corps.
The CG who was represented at the occasion by an Assistant Commandant General in charge of Agro Rangers, ACG Augustine Obiekwe, reiterated that the primary objective of a VIP Protection Unit is to reduce the risk of harm to the VIPs and maintain their privacy while allowing them to carry out their daily activities and engagements.
Earlier in his welcome address, Assistant Commandant General in charge of Training and Manpower Development, ACG David Abi, fsi, urged the Corps to uphold what they had practice during the training and must not fall short of expectations.
Speaking further, Abi expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving them the responsibility of safeguarding VIPs upon assumption of office.
He commended the Commandant General under whose far-sighted leadership, the unit has been established and the first batch of trainees inaugurated, leveraging on the President’s desire of repositioning the Corps for effective service delivery.
He said, “consequent upon the need to give practical expression to the responsibility from the President, the Commandant General swung into action by approving the establishment of a special Bodyguard/VIP protection Unit for proper coordination, Command and control training of selected personnel for better service delivery in line with global best practice.
The CG has approved the appointment of an Assistant Commandant of the Corps, ACC Donald Anyor, whose contributions in some of the training manuals were significant as Head of the Unit.
