Due to serious staffing shortages, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been obliged to reject at least five serving senators as a result of the enormous increase in demand for private protection services.
This disclosure was made two weeks after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued an order on November 26 directing the removal of 11,566 police officers from private guard duty in order to reallocate security personnel to address the growing level of national insecurity.
Speaking anonymously, an NSCDC officer disclosed that requests for private protection had more than doubled since the presidential directive, indicating that the organization is overburdened.
“The increase in VIP demands for protection is putting pressure on us. Due to an increase in requests, we have had to decline five senators. The officer told THE WHISTLER, “The situation is overwhelming, and we just do not have the manpower to satisfy everyone.”
According to its Act, the primary responsibility of the NSCDC is to preserve Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), including telecommunications sites, power plants, and oil pipelines, as well as to manage disasters and ensure community safety.
“Every day, new applications come in from politicians, businessmen, and even community leaders,” the officer emphasized, stressing that the Corps cannot neglect this fundamental responsibility. But vital assets and national infrastructure continue to be our top priorities. We cannot give up on our primary mission.
In order to address increased insecurity, particularly recent high-profile attacks and kidnappings of kids, President Tinubu declared a national security emergency, which includes the removal of police escorts.
11,566 police officers were removed from VIP responsibilities, according to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
In order to improve frontline policing, these withdrew officers are anticipated to complete crash retraining and be sent right away to unstable areas.
In addition, the President mandated the use of NYSC camps as training facilities and ordered the huge recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers, bringing the total recruitment to 50,000.
In essence, the directive transferred the responsibility for private protection to licensed private security companies and the NSCDC. Despite having a dedicated VIP Protection Unit, the NSCDC may not be able to fully implement its services to satisfy the increased demand because to a severe manpower shortage, according to sources.
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