FIC Report (Abia State) – The Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Government for approving the construction of a permanent command for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abia State. The approval, which comes through the Honourable Minister overseeing the Corps, is part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment to strengthening national security infrastructure.
Governor Otti gave his nod for land allocation “in principle” for the command headquarters when he received the Commandant General of NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, on a working visit to the Government House, Umuahia.
“I want to thank you for bringing the good news of the Federal Minister’s approval for the construction of an NSCDC command in Abia. It’s indeed commendable. Let the Honourable Minister know we have already approved, in principle, a suitable parcel of land for this important project,” Governor Otti stated.
The Governor directed the Commissioner for Lands and Housing to meet with him before the end of the week to identify and allocate the land—ensuring the project moves forward without delay.
Dr. Otti praised the efforts of all security agencies in the state, noting that although perfect security is hard to achieve, Abia remains relatively secure due to the commitment of its service commanders. “They don’t sleep so that our people can sleep,” he said, commending the collaborative efforts of the Army, Police, Navy, DSS, and NSCDC.
He stressed that security remains the bedrock of his administration’s development agenda: “If we ignore security, everything else we build—roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools will eventually collapse due to lack of safety.
That is why we are deliberate about security.”
Governor Otti disclosed that earlier that day, security forces had successfully cleared a criminal hideout in Isiukwuato, further reaffirming the State’s tough stance on crime and violence.
The Governor thanked the Federal Government for appointing Prof. Audi to lead the NSCDC, describing him as a man of intellect, capacity, and humility. He also appreciated the Commandant General for his consistent attention to developments in Abia and his kind words on the administration’s achievements.
In his remarks, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi explained that his visit to Abia was part of an operational tour, and to personally thank Governor Otti for the strong support the NSCDC has received from the state. He revealed that Abia is one of five states selected to benefit from the Federal Government’s new command construction initiative, which is captured in the Federal Budget.
“Due to your proactive support on security issues, the Honourable Minister has approved the construction of a befitting NSCDC State Command in Abia. We respectfully ask that you allocate land close to the city to enable smooth logistics and accessibility,” Prof. Audi said.
He thanked Governor Otti for the Corps’ inclusion in the state’s joint security task force, “Operation Crush,” and for the donations of vehicles and other logistics. He described Governor Otti as “humility personified,” commending his rare leadership style and accessibility.
Governor Otti was joined at the meeting by Special Adviser on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd), Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security and Fire Emergencies, Mr. Chukwunenye Alajemba, and the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Sir Ken Nwosu.
The NSCDC Commandant General was accompanied by Abia State Commandant, CC Akinsola Aderemi; Deputy Commandants Emmanuel Ogoya (DC OPS – Abia), Ibrahim Yahaya (Rivers Command), Assistant Commandant Okorie Chinomso (2i/c OPS – Abia), and CSC Uzoaru Prince, among other senior officers.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC Umuahia Abia State.
18-07-2025.
