Tension is rising in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area following the commissioning of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office, with several stakeholders expressing anger over what they describe as their exclusion from the event.
The controversy deepened after it emerged that the NSCDC office was created from the Skill Acquisition Centre built by Hon. Mrs. Stella Ngwu. The centre, originally established to provide vocational training and empower youths and women in the area, has now been repurposed for security operations.
Some community leaders and political stakeholders have voiced frustration, claiming they were neither informed nor invited to the commissioning ceremony. They argue that such a significant development especially one involving the conversion of an empowerment facility should have involved broader consultation and participation.
Residents say the Skill Acquisition Centre represented an important investment in human capital development. According to them, it was designed to address unemployment, reduce youth restiveness, and create opportunities for self-reliance. Its conversion, they insist, has left many beneficiaries uncertain about the future of the empowerment programmes.
While supporters of the council leadership maintain that security infrastructure is critical for sustainable development, critics argue that empowerment and security should not be mutually exclusive. They question why an alternative structure was not provided for the NSCDC instead of converting a facility built specifically for skills training.
Observers note that the issue has exposed underlying tensions between the local government leadership and some stakeholders within the community. The anger appears to stem not only from the change of use of the building but also from the perceived lack of inclusion in the decision-making and commissioning process.
As the NSCDC office begins operations, calls are mounting for clarity on whether plans exist to replace or relocate the Skill Acquisition Centre to ensure that empowerment programmes continue.
For now, the development has sparked debate across Igbo-Etiti, with many residents insisting that meaningful progress must combine security, transparency, and inclusive governance.
