In furtherance of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening internal security through continuous manpower development and the adoption of modern technology, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, has commenced A5-day Strategic Capacity-Building Workshop for senior officers on “Technological Advancement in Security Management.”

The workshop, which commenced on Tuesday, 28th July and will conclude on Thursday, 30th July, 2026, is holding at Harriet Hotel, Umuahia, with participants drawn from the State Command Headquarters, Area Commands and Divisional Offices across the seventeen Local Government Areas of Abia State.

The intensive training programme focuses on modern security management, intelligence gathering, criminal investigation, prosecution, threat assessment, drone technology, wireless communication systems, digital evidence management, artificial intelligence applications, inter-agency collaboration and other contemporary security strategies designed to improve operational effectiveness and service delivery.

Declaring the workshop open, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Chukwuemeka N. Odimba, described the training as a significant milestone in the Command’s determination to build a highly professional, technologically driven and intelligence-based workforce capable of responding effectively to evolving security threats.

Commandant Odimba noted that insecurity has become increasingly sophisticated due to technological advancement and changing criminal tactics, stressing that security personnel must continuously update their knowledge and operational skills in order to remain ahead of criminal elements.

He explained that the workshop was carefully designed to expose participants to emerging trends in security management while improving their capacity in intelligence gathering, surveillance, criminal investigation, prosecution, risk assessment, cyber-supported policing, drone operations and wireless communication technology.

According to him, modern security management can no longer rely solely on conventional methods but must embrace digital innovations, intelligence-driven operations and effective collaboration among security agencies to achieve sustainable peace and public safety.

The State Commandant expressed profound appreciation to the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, for his visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to personnel development and sustained investment in training and retraining of officers across the country.

He equally appreciated the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for his unwavering support to the Command and other security agencies, describing the Governor as a strong advocate of security collaboration whose administration has continued to provide the enabling environment for effective security operations throughout the state.

Commandant Odimba urged participants to give maximum attention to every lecture and practical session throughout the workshop, reminding them that the programme was designed as a “train-the-trainer” initiative. He charged them to transfer the knowledge acquired to officers and personnel under their respective commands immediately after the training.

He disclosed that certificates would be presented to all participants upon successful completion of the workshop and expressed confidence that the exercise would greatly improve professionalism, operational efficiency and service delivery across the Command.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Commandant General, the Zonal Commander, Zone 5 Headquarters, Owerri, Dr. Ahmed Ahmed Gandi, conveyed the sincere apologies of Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi for his inability to attend the programme due to unavoidable official engagements.

According to Dr. Gandi, the Commandant General had originally intended to personally declare the workshop open, a development which clearly demonstrates the high premium the Corps’ leadership places on continuous capacity building and professional development.

Presenting the goodwill message of the Commandant General, Dr. Gandi stated that today’s security environment demands a new generation of officers equipped not only with courage and discipline but also with technological competence, analytical skills, emotional intelligence and professional ethics.

He noted that criminal activities have become increasingly complex and technology-driven, making continuous education indispensable for every security professional.

The Commandant General explained that the workshop would equip officers with updated knowledge in intelligence gathering, intelligence analysis, criminal investigation, prosecution, digital evidence management, drone deployment, artificial intelligence, integrated communication systems, risk assessment and modern operational planning.

He stressed that effective security management is no longer measured solely by physical strength or the use of force but by intelligence-led operations, professionalism, teamwork, strategic communication, emotional control and the ability to make sound operational decisions under pressure.

Professor Audi further observed that modern security institutions across the world are gradually migrating from isolated operational systems to integrated security management platforms that combine surveillance cameras, access control systems, alarm monitoring, intelligence databases, incident reporting and advanced analytics into a single operational framework.

According to him, artificial intelligence has become an indispensable tool for processing huge volumes of intelligence reports, reducing false alarms, identifying emerging threats and supporting faster operational decision-making.

He explained that mobile operational applications now enable field officers to verify patrol activities, submit incident reports in real time and maintain seamless communication with command centres.

The Commandant General also highlighted the growing importance of digital evidence in criminal investigations, noting that mobile phone records, location data, messaging logs, digital footprints and forensic documentation have become vital tools in successful criminal prosecution.

He maintained that the increasing use of technology in criminal justice administration requires investigators to maintain proper chain of custody, standardised evidence management and internationally acceptable forensic procedures.

Professor Audi further identified drones as one of the most valuable assets in modern security operations, particularly in aerial surveillance, search-and-rescue missions, disaster response, intelligence gathering, protection of critical national assets and rapid deployment during emergencies.

He equally underscored the importance of secure wireless communication systems capable of supporting real-time information sharing between operational teams, command centres and other security agencies.

The Commandant General reaffirmed that the Corps remains committed to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the area of strengthening national security through innovation, institutional reforms, inter-agency collaboration and continuous human capacity development.

He also commended the Government of Abia State for its unwavering support to security agencies, noting that Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to improving security has significantly enhanced operational effectiveness and public confidence across the state.

Professor Audi encouraged participants to actively participate in every session, ask questions, exchange professional experiences and ensure that the knowledge acquired translates into practical improvements in their respective commands.

He officially declared the Strategic Capacity-Building Workshop open and expressed confidence that the training would produce officers capable of delivering more efficient, intelligence-driven and technology-oriented security services.

In his goodwill message, the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, Commander of Narcotics Leonard Nnamdi, congratulated the NSCDC for organising what he described as a timely and highly strategic workshop.

He observed that organised crime, illicit drug trafficking and other emerging security threats have become increasingly sophisticated, making technological innovation and continuous personnel training indispensable.

According to him, no single security agency can effectively address contemporary security challenges without strong collaboration, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.

Commander Nnamdi reaffirmed the commitment of the NDLEA to sustaining its robust partnership with the NSCDC and other security agencies towards safeguarding lives and property in Abia State.

Also delivering a goodwill message, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu commended the foresight of the NSCDC leadership in organising the workshop and stressed the importance of integrating drone technology, wireless communication and intelligence gathering into daily security operations.

He reaffirmed the readiness of stakeholders to continue collaborating with the Corps in promoting peace, public safety and sustainable development across the state.

Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Navy Commodore MacDonald Rit Ubah, applauded the NSCDC for its professionalism and resilience in complementing other security agencies in maintaining peace and security throughout Abia State.

He disclosed that the effective collaboration among security agencies under the administration of Governor Alex Otti has contributed significantly to the remarkable improvement in the security situation across the state.

Commander Ubah urged participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the workshop and ensure that the knowledge acquired is replicated across Area Commands, Divisions and operational formations in order to strengthen institutional capacity.

Speaking with the Press,shortly after the opening ceremony, the Zonal Commander, Dr. Ahmed Ahmed Gandi, expressed satisfaction with the level of participation, discipline and enthusiasm displayed by officers attending the workshop.

He described the security situation in Abia and Imo States as greatly improved compared to previous years and attributed the progress to sustained collaboration among the NSCDC, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the NDLEA and other security agencies.

Dr. Gandi reaffirmed that effective inter-agency synergy remains one of the strongest strategies for combating insecurity across the federation.

He further commended the leadership of the Abia State Command under Commandant Chukwuemeka N. Odimba, describing him as a hardworking and result-oriented officer whose commitment continues to attract commendation from both the Corps’ leadership and the Abia State Government.

The workshop is expected to produce a new generation of highly skilled officers equipped with modern technological knowledge capable of enhancing intelligence gathering, criminal investigation, digital evidence management, prosecution, drone deployment, emergency response, protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, and overall operational efficiency.

The initiative further demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to professionalism, innovation, technological advancement, continuous manpower development and effective service delivery in line with its statutory mandate and the Federal Government’s vision of building a safer, more secure and technologically advanced Nigeria.

Onyebuchi Juliet Nwabu
FIC Correspondent, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
28th July 2026.