Interior Minister sets up reform committee to overhaul private security companies

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has established a 9-member reform committee to revamp the country’s private security guard companies and enhance their contribution to national security.

The committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Aishatu Ndayako, has been tasked with standardizing private security companies to meet the country’s security needs.

The committee, which has three weeks to submit its report, includes representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN). The NSCDC is responsible for training, supervising, and issuing licenses to private security practitioners in Nigeria.

The Minister emphasized the crucial role private security companies play in enhancing national security and complementing conventional security agencies’ duties, particularly in intelligence gathering. He urged operators to adhere to regulatory rules, which the NSCDC will enforce and regulate.

The Permanent Secretary, Aishatu Ndayako, welcomed stakeholders to the meeting, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue and collective expertise to foster a secure environment for communities and businesses.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, highlighted the importance of coordination and cooperation among state actors and private security operators to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

The National President of ALPSPN, Chris Adigwu, commended the Minister for the stakeholders’ meeting and pledged his members’ support for the new reforms. The meeting included presentations on challenges and solutions from operators across different zones, which were addressed by the Minister.

The reform committee’s recommendations are expected to improve the standardization and regulation of private security companies in Nigeria, enhancing their contribution to national development.