By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Federal Government has urged private security operators to embrace intelligence-driven operations, technology and stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to strengthen national security and tackle evolving security threats nationwide.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, made the call at the maiden Nigeria Private Security Development Summit 2026 on Tuesday in Abuja.
Matawalle was represented by his Special Adviser, Retired Rear Adm. Ariku Abdulkadir at the event with the theme “Reimagining Private Security in Nigeria: From Manpower to Intelligence-Driven Protection.”
He said the theme of the summit reflected the changing realities of modern security management.
According to him, terrorism, cybercrime, piracy, transnational organised crime, misinformation and other hybrid threats have become increasingly sophisticated, interconnected and technology-driven.
He added that evolving threats required intelligence superiority, rapid response and effective collaboration among public and private security institutions.
Matawalle said national security now extends beyond territorial defence, stressing that “peace, investment and sustainable development depend on secure environment.”
He said the Federal Government had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister listed the reforms to include the National Security Strategy 2024, the National Defence Policy, the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023.
He explained that Nigeria was investing in cyber defence, Artificial Intelligence, digital intelligence, surveillance systems, data analytics and integrated command-and-control platforms.
He said “the objective is to transition from reactive security responses to predictive and preventive security operations.”
Matawalle, however, stressed that technology must complement professionalism and remain within legal, ethical and human rights frameworks.
He described the private security industry as an indispensable component of Nigeria’s national security system.
According to him, no modern nation can rely solely on public security institutions to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
He urged private security companies to evolve beyond manpower deployment to intelligence-based, technology-enabled and professionally regulated operations.
The minister said operators should strengthen intelligence gathering, risk management and critical infrastructure protection in collaboration with government agencies.
He added that “private security firms also have important roles in maritime surveillance, logistics security and protection of coastal infrastructure under appropriate regulatory coordination.”
He emphasised the need for standard training, professional certification, ethical conduct and continuous capacity development across the industry.
He said stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, academia and international partners remained essential to building safer and resilient Nigeria.
Dr Chris Adikwu, the National President, Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), urged government to integrate licenced private security operators into Nigeria’s national security architecture through structured intelligence collaboration.
Represented by Dr Felix Obaze, Adikwu said more than 1,700 licenced private security companies employing more than four million personnel constituted a strategic national asset capable of strengthening intelligence gathering and protecting critical infrastructure.
He advocated reform of the Private Guard Companies Act, establishment of a National Private Security Intelligence Network, adoption of advanced technologies and joint training with security agencies to enhance national resilience and crime prevention.
Earlier, the Summit Producer, Chief Agu Amogu, said Nigeria possessed one of Africa’s largest private security workforces whose strategic potential remained underutilised.
Amogu said the industry should move beyond providing guards to becoming key player in intelligence, technology and critical infrastructure protection.
He said the summit would produce practical recommendations culminating in the Abuja Declaration to guide future policy reforms and industry transformation.
The Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of ALPSPN, Chief Lucky Ojealaro, urged operators to embrace innovation, strategic partnerships and continuous professional development.
Ojealaro said the summit would equip participants with knowledge on security governance, enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, emerging threats and regulatory compliance.
He expressed confidence that the engagement would reposition Nigeria’s private security industry as a strategic partner in national security and economic development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders at the summit agreed that private security operators must evolve to be able to function effectively in the national security architecture. (NAN)
