Oshiomhole urges review of NSCDC Act, says Nigeria’s security challenges complicated

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has called for a review of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Establishment Act, arguing that the agency’s current legal framework no longer reflects the realities of the complex security threats confronting the country.

Oshiomhole made the call on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled “Nigeria’s Security Dilemma: Rivalries and Implications, Vol. 1,” authored by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Olusola Odumosu.

The event attracted representatives of various security agencies, lawmakers, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), scholars, media practitioners and other stakeholders.

The former Edo State Governor said Nigeria’s security challenges had become increasingly complicated, making it impossible for any single security agency to effectively tackle them alone.

According to him, experience has shown that insecurity can only be addressed through strong collaboration among security agencies, effective intelligence sharing and a unified national response.

“The issues are far more complicated than many people imagine. No one arm of security can deal with the challenges facing Nigeria today, whether at the state or national level,” Oshiomhole said.

He identified lack of trust among security agencies, poor intelligence sharing, unhealthy rivalry, superiority contests and weaknesses within the judicial system as some of the factors undermining efforts to combat insecurity.

Speaking specifically on the NSCDC, Oshiomhole argued that the inclusion of the word “civil” in the agency’s name no longer accurately reflects the dangerous assignments undertaken by its personnel.

“The concept of a civil defence corps suggests an organisation without firearms. But when criminals are armed with sophisticated weapons and are involved in illegal oil bunkering, vandalism and other serious crimes, those confronting them must be adequately equipped.

“If the criminals you have to fight carry sophisticated weapons, your own weapons should be nothing less than sophisticated,” he stated.

The senator also stressed the importance of mandatory intelligence sharing among security agencies, noting that security institutions must work together rather than operate in silos.

Drawing from his experience as governor, he recalled how intelligence supplied by security agencies, combined with coordinated operations involving the military and police, led to the arrest of several criminal suspects.

He, however, expressed concern that some of these efforts were often frustrated during prosecution, alleging that suspects were sometimes granted bail or discharged despite the resources invested in apprehending them.

Responding to concerns about political will for security reforms, Oshiomhole defended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the government is committed to addressing the country’s security challenges.

He also described the book’s author, Dr. Odumosu, as “an intellectual in uniform,” commending him for contributing to national discourse on security while still actively serving in the Corps.

Earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (rtd), said the issues raised in the book were timely and relevant.

He disclosed that efforts were already under way to strengthen cooperation among security agencies.

“The stability of Nigeria is more important than the ego of any agency,” he said.

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In his remarks, Deputy Commandant General Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, who represented the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, noted that insecurity had become a global challenge affecting every sector of society, making the book’s launch particularly significant.

Speaking on the motivation behind the publication, Dr. Odumosu said the book was written to advocate stronger inter-agency collaboration in the fight against insecurity.

“No single security agency possesses all the answers to Nigeria’s security challenges. No one has a monopoly of wisdom, strategy or knowledge. There is a need for a united front against criminality, banditry, kidnapping and other threats confronting the nation,” he said.

The FCT Commandant identified unhealthy inter-agency rivalry as one of the greatest obstacles to an effective national security response, stressing that security agencies must see themselves as partners rather than competitors.

According to him, only through cooperation, intelligence sharing and a common sense of purpose can Nigeria successfully confront its growing security challenges and restore peace across the country.