The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has issued operational licences to 24 private guard companies to complement efforts of the corps in curbing crimes in the country.
According to a statement by NSCDC spokesperson, Mr Olusola Odumosu on Friday in Abuja, the issuance was to eliminate quackery in the private security industry.
The statement said that NSCDC Commandant General, Mr Ahmed Audi, presented the licences to the companies after they had successfully undergone thorough screening to ascertain the eligibility of their applications.
Audi charged the operators to see the licence as an opportunity to help in nipping crime by being proactive and collaborating with security agencies to provide actionable and accurate intelligence.
“As stakeholders in the protection of lives and property, let us join hands to safeguard our future and that of the generations yet unborn.
“This will make our country better and safer because a secured environment will no doubt engender socio/economic development of the country,” he said.
He further charged all private security guards to work within the scope of the law governing their operation as not to incur the wrath of the corps.
“Violators would have their licences seized, revoked or have their operational base sealed until the right procedure is followed,” he said.
The NSCDC boss also said that the corps had concluded all arrangements to make available its training facilities for the guard companies to leverage for training, capacity building and manpower development of their staff.
The corps helmsman warned the operators to shun any corrupt tendency and not succumb to any form of pressure or negative influence that might put the integrity of their companies in jeopardy.
He, however, urged the operatives to make sure they paid their staff salaries and all entitlements as and when due to avoid any form of compromise.
“If security providers are not well remunerated, there is serious tendency for such guard to be easily lured with money or any juicy offer by criminals,” he warned.
Responding on behalf of the newly licensed operators, Mr Godwin Umoh, Chairman, Pareto Smartwork Nig. Ltd, commended the NSCDC for the speedy and transparent process adopted in the screening exercise.
Umoh noted that it was a very credible way to ensure professionalism in the sector unlike before when it used to be an all comers’ affair.
