Private security firm demands law reform

Dr. Chris Adigwu, National President of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, is urging a thorough revamp of Nigeria’s private security laws, which have remained stagnant for nearly four decades.

Adigwu stated that the overhaul was needed to address modern security challenges.

Speaking on Tuesday, he emphasised the urgency of updating the legal framework governing Nigeria’s private security industry.

He said the current legislation was outdated and ill-equipped to handle contemporary threats, such as terrorism, cybersecurity risks, pandemics, rapid urbanisation, and advancements in surveillance technology.

“The world has indeed become a global village, and industries like private security must adapt to changing circumstances and best practices.

“It is alarming that the law governing the Nigerian private security industry is 38 years old, considering the rapid evolution of security challenges and technologies.

“It is crucial to update and modernise the legal framework to address contemporary security concerns and align with global best practices,” Adigwu said.

Stressed that aligning Nigeria’s private security sector with international standards was crucial, he added: “It is a perfect step in the right direction. We are just catching up with global best practices in the private security sector.”

He also addressed concerns about the financial implications of new policies on smaller security firms, promising to work with regulators to ensure fair implementation that considers the interests of all practitioners.

“Our operational costs in recent times have gone so high. A lot of our members are struggling to keep afloat.

“We will engage the regulators to make sure the implementation of the new policy is done in such a way that the practitioners’ interest, whether small or big, would be considered,” he stated.

A crucial element of the proposed reforms is the creation of a centralized database for private security personnel.

“Clients will have greater confidence in the security personnel assigned to their premises.

The database will help in vetting guards, reducing the risk of hiring individuals with criminal backgrounds, and will streamline guard deployment, scheduling, and performance tracking,” Adigwu said.