Outgoing Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has been accused of refusing to hand over to the most senior Deputy Commandant-General in line with established protocol, allegedly because the officer is from the South-East geopolitical zone.
Audi, who officially bowed out of service on Friday after reaching the mandatory retirement age and completing his tenure, was expected to formally transfer authority to the most senior Deputy Commandant-General (DCG), Nnamdi Nwinyi, pending further directives from the Federal Government.
However, multiple sources within the Corps told SaharaReporters that the expected handover did not take place, triggering tension at the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja.
According to the sources, the most senior DCG in line to take over in acting capacity is Nnamdi Nwinyi, who currently heads the Intelligence and Investigation department at the headquarters.
The sources alleged that Audi declined to hand over to Nwinyi because of his ethnic background.
“A DCG of the Nigerian Civil Defence is supposed to take over from the outgoing CG as the most senior DCG, but the CG up to today refused to hand over to him simply because he is an Igbo man,” one of the top sources disclosed.
“He is the DCG Intelligence and Investigation at the headquarters. His name is DCG Dr Nnamdi Nwinyi,” the source added.
Another senior officer who spoke on condition of anonymity described the situation as “deeply troubling,” noting that established civil service and paramilitary traditions dictate that the most senior officer assumes leadership in acting capacity when a chief executive retires, pending formal appointment of a substantive replacement.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the NSCDC headquarters as of the time of filing this report were unsuccessful.
Audi assumed office on March 1, 2021, following his appointment by late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
A native of Nasarawa State, Audi was born on September 30, 1967. He holds a PhD in Public Administration from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and a Master’s degree in Public Business Administration from the University of Calabar.
He is also a member of the National Institute.
Leadership transitions in Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Customs Service, have historically generated tension.
This is especially where seniority rules are bypassed, acting appointments are delayed or the presidency intervenes before internal handover.
Also, regional or ethnic balancing has been subjected to political will.
In several past instances, outgoing heads reportedly attempted to influence succession outcomes before formal federal appointments were announced.
Nigeria operates an informal but powerful “federal character” principle, meant to ensure regional balance in public service appointments.
Over the past decade, media reports and civil society groups have repeatedly debated perceived underrepresentation of South-East officers in top security roles.
