Wondering about the security agencies in Nigeria or thinking about the functions, duties, and uniforms of Nigerian security agencies? This article discusses everything you need to know.


This Post Covers;

An Introduction

Security Agencies in Nigeria

The State Security Service (SSS)
Functions and Duties of the SSS include the following.
Head of the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS),
Heads/Director Generals of the Nigeria State Security Service (SSS) since formation in 1986.
Uniform of DSS/SSS

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Activities, Functions, and Duties of the NDLEA
Head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Who was the first Chairman of NDLEA in 1989 when it was founded?
Uniform of NDLEA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
Head and Departments of the Nigeria Customs Service
Functions and Duties of the Nigeria Customs Service
Uniform of Nigeria Custom Service

The Nigeria Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
Duties and Functions of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
Current Head (Corps Marshal) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
Past Heads (Corps Marshal) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
Past and Present Chairmen of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
Uniform of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
What is the difference between the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
Duties and Functions of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
Head of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
Past and Current Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
Uniform of the Nigeria Immigration Service

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Duties and Functions of the Civil Defence Corps in Nigeria
Who is the Head of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps?
What is the NSCDC Uniform Color?

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
Duties and Functions of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
Head (Leadership) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
Past and Present Inspectors General of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
Who is the Inspector General of Police in 2020?
Who is the first Inspector General of Police?
Uniform of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)

The Nigerian Armed Forces
Functions of the Nigerian Armed Forces

The Nigerian Army (NA)
Functions of the Nigerian Army
Uniform of the Nigerian Army
Head of the Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
Functions of the Nigerian Air Force
Uniform of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
Head of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF)

The Nigerian Navy (NN)
Functions of the Nigerian Navy (NN)
Uniform of the Nigerian Navy (NN)
Head of the Nigerian Navy (NN)

Joint Task Force (JTF) – Another Branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces

Head of the Nigerian Armed Forces
List of Past and Present Nigeria Chiefs of Defence Staff

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
Functions of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
Head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
List of Past and Present Directors General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Functions of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
List of Past and Present Chief of Defense Intelligence (CDIs) of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

Final Words on the Security Agencies in Nigeria



An Introduction
Security agencies are groups or institutions whose responsibilities and activities lead to the safety of an organization, territory, or locality.

They could be private or government-owned and are trained to identify threats to society, with the aim of combating them.

Most countries of the world experience crimes and have measures in place for the maintenance of security. Security issues are tackled because insecurity is like a hydra-headed monster that subtly grows if left unchecked.

Insecurity destabilizes a nation or locality and can have serious socioeconomic effects.

Like every other country, Nigeria wishes to maintain a peaceful and secure nation, thus the presence of security agencies in Nigeria. Over the years, the government has set up and passed into law a couple of security agencies. These security agencies are charged with the functions and duties of maintaining security in the country.

Besides servicing as Nigeria security agencies, some of these agencies also function as regulatory bodies with the preserve of prosecuting individuals on the wrong sides of the law.

This article will highlight the various security agencies in Nigeria, their general and specific functions and duties, and everything you should know about them.

Let’s get right to it!


Security Agencies in Nigeria

1) The State Security Service (SSS)

The State Security Service was created in 1986, on the 5th day of June, following the dissolution of the National Security Organization (NSO). This was contained in the inaugural address made by the then military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

The security agency’s first headquarters was at 15, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State, before it was moved to Abuja during General Sani Abacha’s regime. The SSS headquarters complex in Abuja is informally called the ‘Yellow House’ and is cited on the northern edge of the Aso drive’s three-arms zone in Maitama, FCT Abuja.

This national security outfit is also called the Department of State Security (DSS). It is constitutionally known as the country’s basic domestic intelligence outfit, with their primary responsibility being intelligence-gathering. The national security agency has its headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

This national security agency’s personnel is also charged with safeguarding highly-placed government officials, including the President, governors, and other cabinet members.

The State Security Services operationally functions as a department within the Presidency and is under the direct control of the National Security Adviser (NSA), based on the Presidential Proclamation in 1999.

The SSS has the constitutional right to investigate any threat-posing issue with the capacity of snowballing into terrorism or insurgency. In other words, the State Security Service is beefed up to carry out counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, surveillance, and internal security functions.

Functions and Duties of the SSS include the following.

The functions and duties of the SSS in Nigeria include;
- Enforcement of the criminal laws of the country.
- Protection and defense of the nation against domestic threats.
- To safeguard top government officials like the; President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, State Governors, and their families.
- The protection of other highly-ranked government officials and other foreign Presidents or heads of state who are visiting the country.
- To help uphold criminal justice laws and their enforcement at both the Federal and State levels.

Head of the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS),
The Director-General heads the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS).

Heads/Director Generals of the Nigeria State Security Service (SSS) since formation in 1986.
Since formation, the Department of State Security (DSS) has had 9 Directors General (as of 2020).

These SSS directors generals include;

Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo June 1986 – September 1990
Chief Albert Horsfall September 1990 – October 1992
Chief Peter Nwaoduah October 1992 – June 1998
Colonel Kayode Are (Rtd) May 1999 – August 2007
Afakriya Gadzama August 2007 – September 2010
Ita Ekpeyong September 2010 – July 2015
Lawal Musa Daura July 2015 – August 2018
Matthew Seiyefa (Ag) 7 August 2018 – 14 Sept2018
Yusuf Magaji Bichi 14 September 2018 – present

Uniform of DSS/SSS
DSS officials are usually on mufti as they’re no,t meant to be recognized in public. However, you can sometimes see them on a black outfit with an inscription of “DSS” on the front.


2) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
In the history of security agencies of Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is the first security agency established with the responsibility of eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, distribution, sales, trafficking, and usage of hard drugs in Nigeria.

This security outfit was established in 1990, based on Decree number 48, as enacted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The personnel of the agency also see to the cracking down of the exportation of such drugs too.

The NDLEA officials are usually found at international and state borders, airports, highways, and seaports. Sometimes, they are found on regular roads carrying out random searches based on tip-offs.

The NDLEA, as a security agency in Nigeria, also tries to eradicate cannabis by destroying plantings found within the borders of the country.

The national security agency has its head office in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Activities, Functions, and Duties of the NDLEA

Some of the duties of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) include;
- Eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, distribution, sales, trafficking, and usage of hard drugs in Nigeria.
- Identification and destruction of farms where cannabis, marijuana, and other illicit substances are cultivated.
- The arrest and prosecution of cartel leaders or drug barons.
- Sensitization of the populace as regards the dangers of drugs.
- Rehabilitation of drug addicts.

Head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
The Head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is called the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
As of 2020, the chairman of the security outfit is Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, a Nigerian professional security officer. He was appointed into the position by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 11th of January, 2016.
Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah took over from Ahmadu Giade, who completed his tenure in office on the 24th of November, 2015.

Who was the first Chairman of NDLEA in 1989 when it was founded?
The first chairman of NDLEA was Mr. Fidelis Oyakhilome, then a Police Commissioner and former Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria. Mr. Oyakhilome had a doctorate in law and was charged with the responsibility of becoming the security agency’s first chairman and chief executive officer.

Uniform of NDLEA
Unlike many security agencies in Nigeria, NDLEA officials can be on mufti or a military-like uniform with an inscription, ‘NDLEA’ written on it. Their official color is red, so they’re mostly on a red cloth carrying their NDLEA inscription.



3) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

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Nice thread!!

This is insightful and educative.

Nostradamus:
Nice thread!!

This is insightful and educative.

Thank you.

Hmm

It’s quite unfortunate that most officers in Nigeria work based on their perception on what they should do rather than what and how law backs their responsibilities.

An average Nigerian officer just feel being entitled to gun means free shooting or being in public places means they are untouchable and untop of the world so that they arrogate power and uses it as they like.

We all need to rub the laws, duties, and responsibilities in their face to know what they are meant to do. “Oga Dey do am so me sef go do am”.

This kind of posts should be on front page for education


When the public is informed, it creates a seamless execution of the law, duties and responsibilities.

amerengues:
Hmm

It’s quite unfortunate that most officers in Nigeria work based on their perception on what they should do rather than what and how law backs their responsibilities.

An average Nigerian officer just feel being entitled to gun means free shooting or being in public places means they are untouchable and untop of the world so that they arrogate power and uses it as they like.

We all need to rub the laws, duties, and responsibilities in their face to know what they are meant to do. “Oga Dey do am so me sef go do am”.

This kind of posts should be on front page for education


When the public is informed, it creates a seamless execution of the law, duties and responsibilities.

I agree with you 100%