PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reappointed Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi as the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for a fresh five-year term, in a move that dramatically reshaped what initially appeared to be his final day in office.
The reappointment, which took effect from Friday, February 27, came just hours after Audi marked the end of his initial tenure and bowed out of service during activities commemorating the 2026 World Civil Defence Day at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.
News Point Nigeria reports that Audi had assumed office on March 1, 2021, following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
His first five-year term ended last Friday, coinciding with his participation in the global civil defence celebration.
What began as a ceremonial farewell quickly turned into a continuation of leadership, as President Tinubu approved Audi’s reappointment, effectively extending his stewardship of the corps for another five years.
With the renewal, Audi is expected to resume duties on Monday with a strengthened mandate to reposition the NSCDC within Nigeria’s evolving security architecture.
President Tinubu charged the Commandant-General to play a more significant role in safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, especially as the Nigeria Police Force intensifies its focus on combating banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism across the country.
The directive signals the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration and redefining operational responsibilities among security institutions.
Born on September 30, 1967, in Laminga Town, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Audi’s journey in the civil defence corps is one marked by steady rise through the ranks.
He began his educational pursuit at Teachers’ College, Jengre, Plateau State, where he obtained a Teachers’ Grade II Certificate in 1987.
He later earned a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from the College of Education, Akwanga, in 1992.
Driven by academic ambition, he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education. In 2001, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar.
Audi further strengthened his academic credentials with a PhD in Public Administration from Nasarawa State University in 2014.
In 2019, he earned a Master’s in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (MLCJ) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also a member of the National Institute (mni), underscoring his strategic leadership training.
Audi joined the NSCDC as a volunteer in November 1996. After completing his basic officer training in 1997, he was deployed as a Divisional Officer in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Over the years, he served in various state commands before his promotion to the rank of Commandant in 2007. He was subsequently deployed to the Office of the Commandant-General at the National Headquarters in Abuja, where he gained extensive administrative and operational experience.
His appointment as Commandant-General in 2021 marked the culmination of a 25-year journey within the corps, a journey that has now been extended by presidential approval.
Audi’s reappointment is widely viewed as a move toward continuity at a time of ongoing security reforms. With Nigeria grappling with diverse security challenges, the Federal Government appears keen on consolidating institutional memory and operational stability within the NSCDC.