By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor in Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has embarked on a renewed drive to improve operational efficiency, strengthen personnel discipline and enhance the protection of critical national assets following the assumption of duty by Commandant of Corps Jonathan Olariche on October 12, 2026.Within his first 14 days in office, Olariche unveiled a three point agenda centred on leadership development, strengthening the Corps’ statutory mandate, and capacity building and personnel empowerment. The agenda signals his intention to reposition the command for improved service delivery and greater effectiveness in addressing security challenges across the state.Olariche, who became the 18th substantive State Commandant of the Akwa Ibom Command, has placed emphasis on punctuality, dedication, integrity and professionalism. His administration has also declared zero tolerance for failure, with the ultimate test being the consistent implementation of these principles and their impact on the conduct and performance of personnel.A major highlight of his first two weeks was an engagement with the American Tower Company (ATC) on October 22 to address the persistent vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure. The meeting examined challenges confronting telecommunications operators, including obstruction of maintenance engineers, restricted access to base stations and difficulties in refuelling generators. Olariche proposed stronger community engagement, trust building and town hall meetings as strategies for discouraging attacks on telecommunications facilities and improving cooperation between security agencies, service providers and host communities.The initiative reflects the importance of safeguarding critical national assets, particularly telecommunications facilities, electricity installations and oil and gas infrastructure, which are essential to economic activities and public services. The command has identified vandalism, illegal bunkering, oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage as major areas requiring sustained attention. However, the success of its approach will depend on effective intelligence gathering, coordinated security operations and measurable reductions in criminal activities.Another significant development was the capacity building workshop on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 organised by the command on October 23. The training was facilitated by the Director of Legal Services at NSCDC National Headquarters, Aminu Kayode Alilu, and focused on lawful arrests, investigations, interrogation procedures, evidence preservation and respect for the fundamental rights of suspects. The exercise was designed to strengthen officers’ understanding of due process and improve the quality of investigations, prosecution and evidence management.During the training, personnel were also reminded that they must not be deployed to recover private debts outside the scope of their lawful duties. The directive reinforces the distinction between the Corps’ statutory responsibilities and private commercial disputes. Its consistent enforcement would help prevent the misuse of official authority, reduce avoidable legal complications and strengthen public confidence in the command. The challenge for Olariche will be to ensure that officers across the state translate the lessons into responsible conduct during their daily operations.Olariche brings experience in operations, administration, training and manpower development, technical services and counter terrorism to his new assignment. His academic qualifications include degrees in project management technology, public administration, and peace and conflict studies. These professional and academic experiences could support his reform agenda, particularly in improving personnel management, operational planning and institutional efficiency. Nevertheless, his administration has also faced questions over the reported transfer of 60 officers from Akwa Ibom to other parts of the country, a development that has raised concerns about personnel deployment and the financial implications for affected officers.Addressing these concerns through transparent communication and fair administrative procedures will be important to maintaining morale within the command. Although Olariche’s first 14 days have featured policy declarations, stakeholder engagement and professional training, it remains too early to conclude that these initiatives have produced lasting operational improvements. The coming months will provide a clearer picture of the administration’s performance through measurable indicators, including security operations conducted, critical assets protected, cases investigated and prosecuted, personnel trained and community partnerships strengthened. Ultimately, Olariche’s success will depend on his ability to translate his stated priorities into tangible results that residents and stakeholders across Akwa Ibom State can independently assess.