By Sumaila Ogbaje
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s private security industry have called for a comprehensive database of licensed operators and improved equipment to enhance intelligence gathering, professionalism and support national security efforts.
They said the measures would enhance intelligence gathering, eliminate illegal operators and improve collaboration between private security companies and government security agencies.
The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews with journalists on the sidelines of the maiden Nigeria Private Security Development Summit 2026 on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Summit Producer, Chief Agu Amogu, said Nigeria’s private security industry remained underutilised despite employing more than four million personnel across the country.
Amogu said the industry possessed enormous capacity to complement government efforts in tackling insecurity through structured partnerships and intelligence sharing.
He said the sector required a comprehensive profiling exercise to identify genuine operators and distinguish them from unlicensed companies.
According to him, such profiling will improve regulation, accountability and professionalism within the industry while supporting effective policy implementation.
Amogu also advocated modern equipment and technology for licensed operators to improve surveillance, intelligence gathering and protection of critical infrastructure.
He said operators should be equipped with advanced communication devices, surveillance systems and other security technologies to effectively support national security agencies.
“The issue is not just about manpower but building a technology-driven and intelligence-led private security industry capable of responding to modern threats,” he said.
The Chairman, Abuja Chapter of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Chief Lucky Ojealaro, also stressed the need to identify licensed operators nationwide.
Ojealaro said the association had resolved to work with regulators and security agencies to profile legitimate companies operating within the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the exercise would help eliminate illegal operators while improving standards and public confidence in licensed private security companies.
Ojealaro added that equipping personnel with modern surveillance technology and continuous training would enhance service delivery and national security.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Makaira Global Security Services, Princess Nana Dahiru, urged the Federal Government to review existing policies restricting licensed private security personnel from carrying appropriate arms.
Dahiru said the restriction limited the ability of operators to provide security services in high-risk locations despite their growing role in protecting lives and property.
She said licensed operators already supported government agencies through intelligence gathering and information sharing.
She, however, stressed the need to adequately equip personnel and provide an enabling regulatory framework to maximise their contribution to national security.
According to her, strengthening licensed private security companies will complement government efforts in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit brought together stakeholders from government and private security operators to chat ways towards building partnerships that would utilised the enormous human resources within private security organisations.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, was represented by his Special Adviser, retired Rear Adm. Atiku Abdulkadir. (NAN)
