The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reportedly directed senior officers to pay between ₦12,000 and ₦22,000 for the production of official portraits of the newly deployed State Commandant, Abdulhamid Salisu Kabara.
The directive, dated September 22, 2026, was issued through the command’s Public Relations Unit and circulated to Heads of Departments, Heads of Units, Area Commanders and Divisional Officers across the state.
According to the directive, officers can pay ₦22,000 for a framed portrait or ₦12,000 for a portrait sticker without a frame. Personnel were also instructed to make payments into a private account and submit proof of payment for documentation.
It remains unclear whether the payment directive was formally authorised by the NSCDC headquarters or represents an arrangement specific to the Niger State Command.
The development has attracted criticism from some personnel, particularly because it comes amid intense scrutiny of the command following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were in NSCDC custody in Minna.
Sources within the Corps described the directive as insensitive, questioning why officers should be required to personally finance official portraits while the command is facing questions over the deaths and treatment of detainees.
The Niger State Command, however, said the portraits were being produced to ensure proper recognition of its leadership and uniformity across its formations. It said the State Commandant had directed that his official portrait be displayed in the offices of senior officers.
The controversy follows the suspension of the former Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and the reported arrest of several NSCDC personnel following the deaths of the 37 suspected miners.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain a matter of public concern, with questions continuing to be raised about the conditions under which the detainees were held and the accountability of officers responsible for their custody.
The latest directive has therefore generated further questions about the priorities and internal practices of the Niger State Command at a time when it is already under public scrutiny.
