NSCDC Issues Licenses to 28 Private Security Companies, Emphasizes National Security Role

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has issued 28 operational licenses to CEOs of private security companies, reinforcing its commitment to standardized security operations and intelligence-sharing across the country.

The licenses were handed over to newly registered members and national executives of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement released by CSC Afolabi Babawale, NSCDC's National Public Relations Officer, the presentation was made on behalf of NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi by Deputy Commandant-General Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, who heads the Directorate of Technical Services.

Speaking at the event, DCG Ningi emphasized the importance of leveraging the expertise of ex-service personnel, who now head many private guard firms:

“Most CEOs of these companies are ex-service men whose wealth of experience can provide the credible intelligence needed for effective national security.”

He charged the new license holders to uphold professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to safety, urging them to play a strategic role in making Nigeria secure and attractive to investors.

Commandant-General Audi noted that although the licenses have commercial value, they also serve as a platform for national contribution. He warned that future license renewals would be performance-based, measured by each firm’s adherence to NSCDC’s regulatory expectations.

“You will be assessed and rated based on your compliance. Future cooperation, including renewal of licenses, will depend on how well your company performs.”

He also announced the introduction of a standardized training curriculum, ensuring that guards across Nigeria will receive consistent and professional instruction, regardless of location.

In a welcome address, ACG Peter Maigari, head of the Private Guard Companies Department, described the vetting process as "demanding and rigorous," reiterating the Corps’ focus on professionalism and national impact.

The NSCDC congratulated the newly licensed firms and reminded them that trustworthiness and moral integrity were key criteria during the approval process—and must remain their hallmark moving forward.