NSCDC Launches Inclusive Security Drive with Sign Language Training for 50 FCT Officers
By: Zainab Uzoma | IDNN Security Desk
In a landmark move to bridge the communication gap with the deaf community, the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has completed a five-day intensive training in sign language for 50 officers.
Commandant Olusola Odumosu, PhD, who led the initiative, described the training as a “strategic investment” in inclusive policing, saying it will revolutionize how security operatives interact with and gather intelligence from hearing-impaired citizens.
“This initiative isn’t just training; it’s a shift in our policing philosophy. It builds trust, expands access to justice, and ensures no voice—whether spoken or signed—goes unheard,” Odumosu said at the closing ceremony.
The officers were drawn from departments including intelligence, counterterrorism, operations, and disaster management. The programme was organized in partnership with Deaf-in-Tech, a tech-driven inclusion NGO based in Abuja.
Odumosu noted that with the introduction of this skill set, officers can now engage directly with deaf complainants and suspects without relying on interpreters. He shared that past cases involving deaf individuals had stalled due to the communication barrier.
“We are empowering officers to conduct interrogations and receive intelligence independently. This is real-time inclusive policing,” he emphasized.
The training is the first of its kind within the NSCDC nationwide. It underscores a broader citizen-centered law enforcement strategy aimed at integrating marginalized populations into the security ecosystem.
Founder of Deaf-in-Tech, Mr. Ayoola Arowolo, praised the FCT Command for being the first in Nigeria’s security architecture to adopt such a progressive move.
“This sets a precedent. No other agency has taken the bold step of including the disability cluster in its operational thinking,” Arowolo said.
He warned that past misunderstandings between deaf individuals and security operatives had led to tragic outcomes, and this initiative could become a national model for change.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of certificates and an award of Inclusive Protection Advocate Leadership to Commandant Odumosu by the training facilitators.
