Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps refreshes firearms training for staff in Federal Capital Territory

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Capital Territory Command, has successfully retrained 65 per cent of its personnel on weapon handling between 2023 and 2025, a significant milestone in its efforts to enhance operational effectiveness.

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This development was disclosed by the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja, where he outlined the command's progress in personnel training.

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According to Odumosu, the command is planning to retrain an additional 20 per cent of its officers and men, which will bring the total to 85 per cent before the end of 2026, further bolstering its capabilities.

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The retraining exercise, which drew personnel from the command's 25 divisions and area commands, was conducted by the Arms Squad unit in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, focusing on arms usage and handling.

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Beyond weapons training, the command has also provided refresher courses for no fewer than 2,500 officers and men in various areas, including operational skills, intelligence gathering, surveillance, administration, strategy, logistics, and tactical manoeuvring.

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Odumosu highlighted the command's commitment to continuous training, noting that personnel from different departments and units have undergone training at the command headquarters, divisions, and area commands.

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A new training facility, equipped with classrooms and tactical obstacle courses, has been built by the command, although it is yet to be inaugurated, and is expected to enhance physical fitness, readiness, and operational capability.

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According to Odumosu, this new facility will enable the command to respond more effectively to criminal activities, and will play a crucial role in aligning the corps with international best practices in crime prevention.

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The command has also adopted modern innovations in crime prevention, including the use of drones, which were recently received from the corps' national headquarters to enhance patrol of critical national assets within the FCT.

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Odumosu emphasized that proper training for drone operators is essential, making training a continuous process, and that the command remains open to support and partnerships from stakeholders willing to assist its operations in combating crime in the FCT.