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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has advocated for the use of private security firms to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.
The minister made this call in Calabar on Thursday 3 of December during a retreat organised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and the Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria.
The retreat had the theme, “New Dynamics for Security Practice in Nigeria”
Aregbesola, who was represented at the event by his Senior Special Adviser on Strategy, Ademola Adeyinka, implored private security firms in the country to be prepared to fill the gaps.
The minister speech reads “There is no doubt that we need private security firms. In a situation where there is a shortage of personnel, there is bound to be challenges; so this is where private security firms fill the gap; and they should be prepared to play certain roles.”
He stressed that the roles they should play should include providing security for their clients at the lower level; prepare their personnel to assist the security agencies with gathering; as well as transmission of critical information; as well as standardised training and remuneration.
He also assured the private security firms of his ministry support said Ministry of Interior will like to collaborate with them on establishing a training and also certification institution for all categories of private security firms.
He said the retreat is timely; given its objective of sharpening and shaping the role of private security operators in the general security architecture of Nigeria.
Delivering his speech, the National President of ALPSPN, Wilson Esangbedo, identified some challenges faced by private security firms in the country.
“Our operators are operating under very harsh and difficult business environment. The Federal Ministry of Labour Employment and Productivity is harassing our operators; to obtain recruiters’ licences to deploy guards.
“We also have the issue of very high tax assessment; besides sundry fees our operators are forced to pay in various states of operation,” Esangbedo said.
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