Senator Adams Oshiomhole wants Nigeria to revisit the law that established the NSCDC. The Lagos-based lawmaker made this push on Friday during a book launch in Abuja.
He was speaking at the unveiling of "Nigeria's Security Dilemma: Rivalries and Implications Vol. 1." Dr Olusola Odumosu, the FCT Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, authored the work.
Oshiomhole, who once governed Edo State, questioned whether "civil" still fits the agency's name. Operatives today face armed gangs, he argued—not peaceful crowds.
"If the criminals you have to fight carry a sophisticated weapon, you, who is fighting them, your weapon should be nothing less than sophisticated," the senator told the gathering.
He noted that current rules leave officers defenseless against dangerous foes. Armed banditry, illegal mining, and oil theft demand better-equipped personnel, not lighter ones.
Oshiomhole also pushed for unity among security agencies nationwide. Intelligence sharing must improve across state and federal levels, he stressed.
No single security outfit can solve Nigeria's challenges alone, the former governor pointed out. Trust between agencies remains weak, he added, and that's a real problem.
Rivalries between institutions drain resources and confuse strategy, according to him. Judges also need to move faster on security-related cases.
"When it comes to security, there is no PDP, no APC," Oshiomhole said during his remarks. Party politics must take a back seat to protecting lives and property.
He called on security commanders to equip field officers properly. Morale and welfare packages matter just as much as firepower.
Headquarters must support frontline troops with resources and clear orders, the senator insisted. Without that backing, even brave operatives will struggle.
Dr Odumosu echoed similar thoughts in his remarks about the book. No agency holds all answers to Nigeria's security crisis, he noted.
"There is a need for a united front because security is not what one agency can do," the NSCDC commandant told reporters. Wisdom belongs to many people, not just a few.
Inter-agency competition wastes time and energy that should go to fighting threats. A coordinated response demands that security leaders speak as one voice.
The book launch brought together officials from multiple agencies and government levels. Discussions centered on making Nigeria's security architecture work more smoothly.
