The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, has closed seven private security companies.  

The NSCDC's Federal Capital Territory Command conducted the operation on Wednesday as part of a larger enforcement campaign to guarantee adherence to the regulations governing the formation of private security firms.  

"Six of the seven companies had no operational licenses, while the seventh was operating with an expired license," said Dr. Olusola Odumosu, the NSCDC's FCT Commandant, who oversaw the enforcement squad.

According to Odumosu, such infractions seriously jeopardise internal security, particularly in a sensitive location like the FCT.

 “We are the regulatory agency and there is a need to conform and comply with the extant law.

“The provision of the law is that before you can operate a private guard company in Nigeria, you must not only register with the Corporate Affairs Commission but also obtain an operational licence approved by the Minister of Interior through the NSCDC,” the Commandant said.

He bemoaned the fact that some of the illicit operators employ unconfirmed people—including foreigners—without conducting adequate background checks.

Odumosu said: “Some of these operators of the private guard companies do not understand the implication of the action to national security.”

He pointed out that private guards have occasionally been linked to illegal actions, such as robberies and kidnappings, frequently involving their own employers.

The commandant added: “I know how many of such cases we have had to deal with where the guards are responsible for kidnapping of the people who employ them and in some cases, we have had a series of cases where it is this same guard that will plan a robbery operation within the precinct of the environment. So, we cannot allow this to happen.”

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