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The Dapo Abiodun administration has charged newly trained officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to wear their uniforms with honour, discipline and unwavering integrity, declaring that public trust remains their strongest weapon in the fight against insecurity.
The Governor’s position was delivered by his Special Adviser on Security, retired AIG Olusola Subair, at the Passing-Out Parade of 244 trainees of College Composite Arms Training Programme (COCATRAP 031), Field Officers Arms Handling Training (FOAHT 020) and Very Important Personality (VIP 001) at the NSCDC College of Security Management, Abeokuta.
The colourful ceremony featured weapon-handling drills and match past by the graduating officers who had undergone rigorous training in arms management, intelligence gathering and protective operations.
Reviewing the parade, the Governor’s representative described the occasion as a transition from training to a higher call to duty, noting that the officers had been “trained, tested and found worthy to bear arms and wear the uniform of the Corps.”
He reminded them that while the uniform symbolises honour, it carries greater responsibility.
“The uniform you wear is not a licence for repression; it is a symbol of protection for the innocent and the vulnerable,” he said, stressing that professionalism must guide their conduct, restraint must define their actions, patriotism must shape their decisions, and the rule of law must remain their compass at all times.
He warned that power without discipline is dangerous and identified corruption as a destructive force capable of weakening institutions more than external threats. According to him, the present national security challenges require intelligence-driven operations, collaboration among agencies and loyalty to constituted authority.
Earlier in his address, the Provost of the College, Assistant Commandant General Niyi O. Akintelure, described the ceremony as a significant milestone in the journey of the officers.
“We are not just training bodyguards; we are forging the elite shield of the Republic,” he declared, adding that the training was only a foundation upon which the officers must build careers marked by integrity, tactical excellence and absolute loyalty to the state.
He emphasised that the Corps was producing “protective professionals,” not ceremonial escorts, urging the graduates to rely more on intelligence and foresight than on the weapons they carry.
Goodwill messages poured in from various state commands.
The Ogun State Commandant, Remilekun Ekundayo, alongside his Edo State counterpart, Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, urged the officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by protecting lives and property with professionalism and commitment.
From Kano State, Commandant Mohammed Hassan Agalama congratulated participants of the Arms Handling Training Programme, describing the exercise as a reflection of the Corps’ commitment to capacity building and operational readiness. He enjoined them to apply their knowledge with strict adherence to rules of engagement and human rights principles.
Similarly, the Kebbi State Commandant, Kabiru Abubakar Alkamawa, commended the Commandant General of the Corps, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for his visionary leadership and sustained investment in training and personnel development nationwide. He urged the graduates to discharge their duties with discipline, integrity and patriotism.
On his part, the Sokoto State Commandant, CC, EA Ajayi, congratulated participants of the Security Management Course, urging them to uphold integrity, courage and compassion in service. He described the passing-out parade as a symbol of unity and solidarity in advancing the NSCDC mandate, while encouraging continuous professional development to keep pace with modern security dynamics.
Collectively, the messages underscored a common theme — that the Corps’ role is protective, not oppressive, and that integrity and public trust remain indispensable in confronting Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The ceremony which also featured presentation of awards to some officers who recorded outstanding performances in the course of the training concluded with renewed commitment by the graduating officers to “Defend the Defenceless,” as dignitaries hailed the College for strengthening the operational capacity of the NSCDC and reinforcing national security architecture.
