President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sanctioned the reappointment of Ahmed Abubakar Audi as the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for an additional five-year term.
The extension, which became effective on Friday, February 27, allows Audi to remain in leadership after completing his first tenure.
He initially assumed office in 2021 following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Confirmation of the renewed mandate was delivered through a statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Audi’s initial five-year tenure ended last Friday, aligning with commemorative events for the 2026 World Civil Defence Day held at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja. Under the fresh approval, he is scheduled to formally continue his responsibilities from Monday.
President Tinubu charged the NSCDC leadership with repositioning the Corps to take on a stronger and more strategic role in safeguarding the country. The directive comes as the Nigeria Police intensifies focus on its primary duty of protecting citizens against banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
Born on September 30, 1967, in Laminga Town within Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Audi began his academic pursuits locally before advancing to Teachers’ College, Jengre, Plateau State, where he secured a Teachers’ Grade II Certificate in 1987.
He later enrolled at the College of Education, Akwanga, earning a Nigeria Certificate in Education in 1992. His academic progression continued at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education in 1995.
Determined to deepen his expertise, he completed a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of Calabar in 2001. He subsequently earned a PhD in Public Administration from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in 2014, before acquiring a Master’s in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University in 2019.
Audi began his journey with the NSCDC as a volunteer in November 1996. After undergoing basic officer training in 1997, he was assigned as a Divisional Officer in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Throughout his career, he has held various positions across multiple state commands. In 2007, he rose to the rank of Commandant and was redeployed to the Office of the Commandant-General at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja.
What you should know
Ahmed Abubakar Audi’s reappointment signals continuity in the leadership of the NSCDC at a time when Nigeria faces evolving security threats.
With a strong academic background and decades of service within the Corps, Audi is expected to strengthen the agency’s operational capacity while complementing the police in tackling banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
President Tinubu’s directive underscores a broader effort to enhance inter-agency coordination and reinforce national security architecture over the next five years.
