Professor Ahmed Audi, CG NSCDC

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has formally granted operating licences to 28 newly registered private security guard companies, reaffirming its regulatory role in strengthening national security through private sector collaboration.

In a statement issued by CSC Afolabi Babawale, National Public Relations Officer at the NSCDC Headquarters, Abuja, the presentation of licences was carried out during a meeting with the national executives of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), along with the CEOs of the new licensees.

Delivering the Commandant-General’s remarks on the occasion, Deputy Commandant-General (DCG), Directorate of Technical Services, Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, who represented CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi, emphasized that securing the nation is a shared obligation. He underscored the need for timely and effective intelligence gathering, stressing that collaboration with private security outfits is a key strategy in boosting internal security.

“We recognize that many CEOs of these private firms are former service personnel. Their background and experience are valuable assets in providing reliable intelligence to support public safety. Based on this, we urge you to uphold high standards of professionalism, integrity, and patriotism, so we can collectively build a secure, investment-friendly, and technologically progressive nation,” Audi said in his address.

He noted that while the licences serve a business purpose, they also present a platform for the private sector to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s overall security framework.

Audi warned that the Corps would closely monitor performance, adherence to regulatory standards, and ethical practices, adding that future engagements, including licence renewals, would depend on demonstrated competence and compliance.

The Commandant-General also announced that the issuance of the new licences coincides with the introduction of a standardized training curriculum for guards across the country. This unified framework, he said, is intended to ensure consistent capacity-building and professionalism in private security services, regardless of geographical location.

Congratulating the newly accredited companies, Audi urged them to sustain the values that earned them approval—namely trust, character, and integrity.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Assistant Commandant-General in charge of the Private Guard Companies Department, ACG Peter Maigari, described the licensing process as stringent but essential to safeguarding the reputation of the sector. He reiterated the NSCDC’s unwavering commitment to professionalism and regulatory oversight.