Ebonyi Politicians Shop For Ex-Access Bank Chieftain

Dr. Felix Amah Nnachi

By Frank Oshanugor

Barely three months after disengaging from the services of Access Bank Plc as Senior Manager in charge of Facilities Management Unit, Dr. Felix Amah Nnachi has now become a golden fish that does not have a hiding place.

Reliable sources close to Mayor Nnachi who served for over two decades in Nigeria’s Financial, Aviation and Energy Sectors told AtlanticNewsonline at the weekend that a good number of political office seekers on the platform of different parties in his home state of Ebonyi have approached him in recent time.

A source rightly insisted that one of the governorship candidates has tipped him to run with him as deputy, but the former Chief Security Officer in many blue chip organisations has not made up his mind yet as he seems to be studying which party to align with.

When contacted on phone, Dr. Nnachi who is currently the President of Development Association of Ebonyi State indigenes in Lagos said he was yet to officially declare for any political party but would soon do so as his interest to further serve the good people of Ebonyi in any capacity was uppermost in his mind.

Though, he could not confirm the rumour that he has been tipped as a running mate by one of the governorship aspirants, yet he could not hesitate to say that he would be willing to serve in any capacity befitting his status.

The erstwhile Chief Security Officer (CSO) of former Diamond Bank Plc, resigned his appointment with Access Bank early this year after many years of meritorious service.

He had joined Access Bank following the merger of the former Diamond Bank in 2019 and subsequently became a Senior Manager in charge of the bank’s Facilities Management Unit.

For over two decades, Mayor Nnachi had served in Nigeria’s Financial, Aviation and Energy Sectors of the economy at different times in various capacities but largely in the security departments of the organisations he worked with.

He had joined the financial industry in October, 1999 soon after he exited the Nigeria Police Force where he served for no fewer than 15 years. Prior to his engagement on April 20, 2019 by Access Bank following the merger with Diamond Bank where he was serving as the Chief Security Officer at the time, Nnachi had at various times worked with different top banks in Nigeria.

On his disengagement from the Nigeria Police Force, he joined Citizens International Bank as Chief Security Officer where he reported directly to the Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer during his four years stay in the Bank before joining Assurance Bank in the same capacity and later Aero Contractors Limited as Chief Security Officer following the liquidation of Assurance Bank in 2005/2006.

In 2007, he secured employment with Fidelity Bank Plc as its Chief Security Officer on Deputy Manager’s level with direct reporting line to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. Five years later, he joined the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2014 as a Principal Manager in charge of security (CSO) and was reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Nnachi’s career sojourn landed him at Sahara Group and he was seconded to Ikeja Electric as its pioneer Chief Security Officer on an Assistant General Manager’s level reporting directly to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and lastly Diamond Bank Plc in 2016 as its Chief Security Officer on Senior Manager level until the merger with Access Bank Plc in 2019.

His police career began in March, 1983 when he was enlisted as a Constable into the Nigeria Police Force and within a space of ten years rose through the ranks to become an Inspector of Police in 1993.

During his service years, he worked as General Duty Officer spanning through Administration, Operation and Investigation serving in various capacities as Orderly to Justice Kalunta (now late), Police Aide to His Royal Highness Sir (Dr) Eze Francis Akanu Ibiam (now deceased),a former Governor of Eastern Region.

He was at a time, the Inspector in charge of Crime, Warri Ports Police Division, Personal Assistant to Deputy Commissioner of Police Chris Nyam, Officer in-charge of Confidential Registry – Ports Authority Police Command, Marina, Police Aide to Dr. Nnamdi Ozobia; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerduck Limited and Unit Head, Anti-Fraud – Ports CID Apapa.

Academically and professionally speaking, Nnachi is sound with good polytechnic and university education. He obtained his National and Higher National Diploma certificates at the prestigious Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from Delta State University, Masters in Industrial & Labour Relations from Lagos State University, Ojo and an Honorary Doctorate degree in Security Management from Triune University, Brooklyn, United States of America.

Professionally, Nnachi is a member of prestigious security industry associations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO), Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Fellow, Nigerian Institute for Industrial Security (NIIS), Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants, Certified Management Consultants, PECB Certified ISO 22301 Lead Implementer etc.

Throughout his service years, he had occasions to attend several international professionally related courses in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and received several awards in recognition of his strides in industrial security.

Nnachi is a member of Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Ikeja Country Club, Chairman of Amangwu Development Union, Lagos and President of Development Association of Ebonyi State (DAES) Lagos which is the umbrella body of Ebonyi State indigenes in Lagos and was crowned Mayor of Amangwu Catholic Community by St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Dioceses of Abakaliki. He is now addressed as Mayor to befit his current title.

His professional expertise has made it imperative for him to be often sought after in providing security solutions to security threats faced by organisations, hence he has left indelible, innovative and sustainable marks in security management and operations across the organisations he worked with. Above all he is a charming team player.

As an upwardly mobile personae, it is interesting to note that Dr. Nnachi’s several movements from one establishment to the other were tied to high level of professionalism, experience and expedient security needs or turnaround of the organisations. With many years of foreign security trainings, Nnachi had over the years remained a great asset to those organisations he worked for.

As a security management consultant, his exit from the banking sector at a relatively young age would afford him the opportunity to contribute more as a private security professional in Nigeria’s economy given his interest in the protection industry.

With his leadership pedigree as the current President of Ebonyi State indigenes in Lagos, there is speculation in some quarters that Nnachi may aspire to any political office in the forthcoming 2023 general elections just as the rumour mill now has it that he is being sought after.

Written by: Frank Oshanugor

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