The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Peace Corps of Nigeria has announced renewed efforts to strengthen security around schools and communities as the new academic session begins.
The Command made this known rising from a strategic meeting held at its Command Office in Abuja, where Officers were briefed on the need for greater vigilance, effective intelligence gathering and consistency in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Meeting, lpresided by the FCT Commandant, Patriot Peter Obaje, focused largely on strengthening the Command’s ability to identify and respond to emerging security concerns within the nation’s capital, with emphasis on Schools and Academic Institutions.
As schools reopen across the country amid prevailing security challenges, the Command stressed the importance of timely intelligence and closer attention to school environments, as well as surrounding Communities.
The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr. Dickson A.O. Akoh, used the session to call on officers in the FCT to embrace innovative approaches in discharge of duties and execution of assignments.
Dr. Akoh particularly emphasised the strategic responsibility of the FCT Command given Abuja’s position as the nation’s seat of Government.
The renewed security focus by the Corps comes as efforts continue towards securing legislative backing through the Bill seeking Establishment of the Nigerian Peace Corp, which was previously passed by the 8th and 9th National Assemblies but did not receive Presidential Assent, however, now being revisited by the 10th Assembly, with much assurances of Assent this time around considering current realities.
When enacted, the legislation would provide statutory backing for the organisation and formally strengthen its proposed roles in Youth Empowerment, Volunteerism, Community Services and Neighbourhood-based Security Initiatives.
The Peace Corps leadership has previously expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Security Reforms and advocated for greater integration of Community-based, Non-kinetic approaches into Nigeria’s wider Security Architecture.
For the FCT Command, the immediate priority remains maintaining vigilance and improving intelligence coordination as students return to schools and activities resume across the Nation’s Capital.
