There are nine major paramilitary forces in Nigeria that are organized under the government to support the military internally in promoting national security.
The paramilitary forces in Nigeria carry out duties that a country’s military are unable or unwilling to handle. Other organizations may be considered paramilitaries by structure alone, despite being unarmed or lacking a combat role.
The paramilitary paramilitary forces in Nigeria is organized like an army and performs either civil or military functions in a country. The following are a list of nine major paramilitary forces;
List of 9 Major Paramilitary Forces In Nigeria
Below are the full list of top 9 major paramilitary agencies in Nigeria and the roles in the society:
1. Nigerian Police Force (NPF)
The Nigerian police is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the society. They ensure that the laws of the government are implemented and defaulters arrested and prosecuted. A lot of persons call them “men in black”. They patrol in cases of burglary or armed robbery attacks.
They investigate and ensure that criminals are clamped down. Officers of the Nigerian police are usually deployed as security in banks and other government agencies.
They also perform some military duties mostly during the period of civil unrest and war when they are sent for peace keeping in affected areas. They are also attached as security aids to top government officials, politicians and expatriates.
2. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
NDLEA is the regulatory body set aside to control illicit drugs in the country. Their duty is to track down the selling and exporting of hard drugs.
The primary functions of the NDLEA include:
- To carry out investigation on drug-related crimes.
- To make sure that drug laws are strictly enforced.
- To prosecute criminals that are involved in drug related cases.
- To reactively patrol public arenas to stop exportation or importation of hard drugs and substances that will endager the lives of citizens.
- To destroy narcotic plants, substances and areas where such drugs are produced.
- To orientate the public on the dangers of narcotic substances in a bid to fight drug trafficking.
3. Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)
The Nigeria Customs service is the best paramilitary agency in Nigeria whose primary role of tackling anti-smuggling activities within the borders of the country.
They are in-charge of collecting and accounting for import/export duty revenues at the borders. They check mate the smuggling of toxic and hazardous substances, money laundering, Guns and weapons at the borders.
4. Nigeria Federal Road Safety Commission (NFRSC)
The FRSC is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the federal roads are safe for motorists. The commission was established through Decree No. 45 of the 1988 constitution.
This commission is to check mate the users, educate them, assign speed limits, and ensure that they adhere to the rules and regulations of the road.
5. Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
The Nigerian immigration service has a sole responsibility of coordinating the migration activities in the country. They control the entrance of people into the country and they offer residence permits to foreigners.
They check mate and prosecute foreigners that made illegal entrance into tho country. If you are a foreigner without your travel papers, then know that these guys will be on your trail.
6. Nigeria Security and civil defense corps (NSCDC)
NSCDC has the mandate to maintain peace and order and to safe the civil society during period of emergency such as war and terrorism. They protect t lives and property, they check mate vandalism of facilities owned by government such as power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN) electric wire cables, oil rigs, engines, etc.
7. Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)
The Nigerian Correctional Service formerly known as the Nigerian Prisons Service are a paramilitary organization in Nigeria that first sprung into duty in 1861 during the formation of the Lagos colony.
The primary functions of the Nigerian Correctional Service include:
- To take into custody persons legally charged to prisons
- To provide secure and humane custody condirions for charged inmates
- To implement various reforms through rehabilitation programmes aimed at enhancing inmates reintegration into the society at large.
- Making sure that inmates are empowered via training them on vocational programmes, agricultural and other incentives.
- To provide the necessary support in facilitating the quick disposal of cases of persons awaiting trial.
- To perform other roles to enhance serivice duties.
8. Federal Fire Service in Nigeria (FFSN)
The fire service was established in 1901 by the British colony as a unit under the Nigerian police. They were given a core responsibility of mitigating fire outbreak and saving the lives of citizens during such incidence.
They were initially called the police brigade. Their role also includes sensitization and training of members of the society on fire fighting and fire outbreak prevention.
9. Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS)
The Nigerian Prisons Service was created in the yea 1861 with the vision to establish a credible Prisons Service which through excellent penal practice seek lasting change in offender’s attitudes, values and behaviour and ensure successful reintegration into the society. Their mission to promote public protection.
The following are powers located to Nigerian Prisons Service as CAP P29 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to
- Identify the causes of their anti-social dispositions;
- Set in motion mechanisms for their treatment and training for eventual reintegration into society as normal law abiding citizens on discharge; and
- Administer Prisons Farms and Industries for this purpose and in the process generate revenue for the government.
- Take into lawful custody all those certified to be so kept by courts of competent jurisdiction;
produce suspects in courts as and when due.
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