The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sealed three Private Guard Companies (PGCs) for operating illegally.
The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu alongside personnel of the operations and PGC unit embarked on a monitoring and enforcement exercise in Abuja.
The three PGCs Companies sealed were Ochacho Security Nigeria Ltd at Idu Industrial layout, Justigo Security and Allied Services in Gwarimpa, and Macro Security Consult and Service at Wuse 2, all in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Odumosu said that Ochacho was sealed on the offense of failure to register as a PGC, refusal to be subject to the licensing authority, employment of guards without approval, and threat to national security and public interest.
“We have invited them and they refused to comply, so we are left with no choice but to seal so that they will stop operating illegally and be compelled to register appropriately,” he said.
The Commandant said that Justigo security company was sealed based on nonrenewal of the operation license, and the usage of two different uniforms for one company, which he tagged illegal and a violation of set guidelines for the use of uniforms and accoutrements for private guard companies.
“You are also charged on offense of threat to national security, refusal to be subjected to license authority, employment of guards without license approval.
“You are expected to conspicuously display your operation license in the office but here there is no such thing.
“You have not renewed your license in the last two years and if you claim you have, show us the evidence because there is no receipt or anything whatsoever to show for your renewal over the last 3 years,” Odumosu explained.
He further said that Maco security company was sealed because the company had not registered and had been operating illegally for years.
Odumosu decried the inappropriate one-room office the PGC is operating from, which also doubled as a quantity surveyor firm and did not meet the required standard of operations.
“They have been operating for the last 3 years without an operation license, this is an illegality and it would not be allowed,” he said.
According to him, it was illegal for the company to resume operations without appropriate registration.
Odumosu said the Corps was saddled with the responsibility to license and regulate the operations of PGCs, hence the sealing of the three companies over compliance violations.
The Command boss said that PGCs formed a major part of Nigeria’s internal security system which necessitated the need for monitoring and enforcement.
He said; “This is a matter of serious security concern which can not be compromised, we can’t allow quacks or miscreants to handle our security, so this effort would be sustained.
“Security operations is not an all-comers affair because we are already facing too many security challenges and that is why we will not allow any illegal operation.
“Under the leadership of the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, we will not condone such illegalities and threats to national security,” the Commandant said.
Odumosu however said that once all sealed PGCs fulfill the necessary operational requirements, their companies would be unsealed and given operational approval.
