The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 3,500 personnel across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure a peaceful and secure 64th Independence Day celebration.
The deployment, confirmed by NSCDC FCT Command spokesperson Samuel Idoko on Monday September 30, 2024, aims to maintain public safety, safeguard critical national assets, and protect public and private properties throughout the festivities.
Idoko said, “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Capital Territory Command has deployed a total of 3,500 personnel to provide security in the FCT for Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary celebrations.”
Special units, including the Armed Squad, Special Crack Squad, Female Strike Force, Anti-Counter Terrorism Squad, and Agro Rangers, have been mobilized to enhance security efforts. Personnel will be strategically positioned throughout the FCT, covering all Area Councils and the city centre, to prevent any potential unrest.
FCT NSCDC Commandant Dr. Olusola Odumosu emphasized the importance of professionalism among NSCDC personnel, citing the FCT's unique status as the nation's seat of power and diplomatic hub. "The government and residents of the FCT expect a lot from the Corps to ensure a peaceful celebration," he noted.
Odumosu stressed adherence to Standard Operating Procedures and 24-hour surveillance on critical national assets. He also called for cooperation among security agencies to ensure seamless security operations throughout the festivities.
“The government and residents of the FCT expect a lot from the Corps in order to have a peaceful celebration. The Command must ensure the safety of public and private properties in the Federal Capital.
“With the FCT being the seat of power and hosting diplomatic headquarters from around the world, the Corps must be highly professional in the discharge of their duties to avoid any form of infraction,” Odumosu noted.
He reiterated that adherence to the Corps’ Standard Operating Procedures is crucial and emphasised the necessity of 24-hour surveillance on critical national assets. He also called for cooperation among security agencies to ensure a seamless security operation throughout the festivities.
Meanwhile, there are speculations that The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has intensified security nationwide as organizers of the October 1 protest refuse to back down, vowing to go ahead with the mass demonstration on Independence Day. Just two months after the explosive #EndBadGovernance protests, a new wave of unrest is brewing, with groups mobilizing citizens for what promises to be a bold showdown on the 64th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
Dubbed #FearlessOctober1, the protest is set to be a continuation of the August #EndBadGovernance movement, with organizers accusing the Federal Government of failing to meet their demands. Among the burning issues are rampant hunger, skyrocketing living costs, widespread insecurity, government wastefulness, the need for electoral reforms, and the urgent necessity for human capital development.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is expected to be a major flashpoint, with protesters planning to storm Eagle Square, the same venue as the official Independence Day parade. In Lagos, demonstrators are poised to gather at Ikeja Under Bridge, with both protests slated to kick off early in the morning.
