Senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have reportedly been directed to pay between ₦12,000 and ₦22,000 for the production of the official portrait of the newly deployed State Commandant, Abdulhamid Salisu Kabara.
The directive, dated September 22, 2026, was issued by the Niger State Command’s Civil Defence Public Relations Unit.
According to the directive, Heads of Departments, Heads of Units, Area Commanders and Divisional Officers are expected to arrange for the production and display of the commandant’s portrait in their offices.
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Officers were given two options, with a framed portrait costing ₦22,000 and a portrait sticker without a frame costing ₦12,000.
The directive further instructed the affected personnel to make payments into a private account and submit evidence of payment for documentation.
Sources within the Corps said the payment request was circulated among various formations in the state on Tuesday.
The development has attracted questions from some personnel, particularly because it comes amid scrutiny of the Niger State Command following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna.
The sources reportedly questioned why officers were being asked to personally fund the production of an official portrait while the command was dealing with the fallout from the deaths.
However, the Niger State Command explained that the portrait was intended to ensure due recognition of the leadership and uniformity across its formations.
The command said the State Commandant had directed that his official portrait be displayed at the offices of senior officers across the state.
It described the directive as being in line with what it called an established practice of according recognition to the leadership of the command and maintaining proper official representation.
The NSCDC has not publicly clarified whether the payment requirement was approved by its national headquarters or forms part of an officially sanctioned nationwide policy.
The portrait directive comes shortly after the controversy surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspected miners in custody.
Following the incident, more than 20 NSCDC personnel were reportedly arrested, including the suspended former Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye.
Kabara was subsequently deployed to take over the command as investigations and public concerns over the circumstances surrounding the deaths continued.
The Corps has yet to publicly disclose the full outcome of any investigation into the deaths beyond the disciplinary actions previously announced.
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