By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has strengthened its maritime security capacity following the successful completion of a specialised Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) training programme conducted under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Maritime Crime Programme.
The intensive training, held at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre in Navytown, Lagos, equipped selected NSCDC personnel with critical skills in maritime interdiction, boarding operations, tactical coordination, evidence management, and adherence to international law and human rights standards.
According to a statement by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the programme marks a significant milestone in the agency’s drive toward operational excellence and enhanced service delivery within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
At a formal ceremony, the trained officers presented their certificates to the Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who commended their dedication and reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to continuous capacity development.
He emphasised that sustained training and retraining remain central to strengthening professionalism, improving operational efficiency, and reinforcing the Corps’ institutional identity within Nigeria’s security architecture.
The initiative, according to NSCDC, aligns with its statutory mandate to protect lives, property, and critical national infrastructure, particularly in safeguarding pipelines and other strategic assets across the country’s waterways.
The Corps noted that the training also enhances its ability to tackle maritime crimes, improve inter-agency collaboration, and ensure compliance with global best practices in maritime security operations.
Under the leadership of Audi, the NSCDC reaffirmed its resolve to remain a mission-driven organisation focused on safeguarding national assets and upholding the rule of law.
