In 2013, one officer struggled to give Nigerians a simple website address during a television interview. His response became one of the country's most memorable catchphrases.
Years later, that same officer has received a major promotion.
Who is the officer, and what four-word expression made him famous?
Shem Obafiaye, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer who became a national talking point in 2013 after his now-famous “Oga at the Top” remark, has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Commandant-General.
Obafiaye was among three officers decorated with the new rank by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, marking a major milestone in his career within the paramilitary organisation.
In 2013, Obafiaye was serving as the Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC when he appeared on Channels Television for an interview.
During the conversation, he was asked to provide the official website address of the Corps. Rather than state the address, he said it could only be provided by his superior, famously referring to the person as his “Oga at the Top.”
The response quickly went viral, attracting widespread public attention and turning the phrase into a popular Nigerian expression.
For years, “Oga at the Top” became shorthand in everyday conversations and online jokes, particularly when people wanted to refer to a superior whose approval or authority was required.
More than a decade after the interview, Obafiaye has reached the rank of Deputy Commandant-General within the NSCDC.
His promotion offers a different perspective on a moment that Nigerians largely remember through comedy and internet culture. Behind the viral clip was an officer whose career continued within the Corps long after the public attention faded.
The story also highlights how a brief television appearance can become part of a person's public identity, even as their professional journey continues beyond that moment.
Do You Remember?
The answer: Shem Obafiaye — “Oga at the Top.”
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