Civil Defence Inaugurates Security Industry Reform Training Implementation Committee

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi has inaugurated a 10-member Training Implementation Committee to kickstart new reforms to standardise the Private Guard Companies (PGC) industry to ensure best global practices.

Describing the act as a giant leap by the Corps to reform and professionalise every aspect of the private security industry in the country, Audi said; “it is the sole mandate of the Corps to train guards and directors of PGC as enshrined in the NSCDC Amendment Act 2007.”

He urged members of the committee to demonstrate commitment, transparency, and fairness in handling their assignment as opposed to complaints, condemnation, and sabotage.

“The success of this assignment and the fate of many companies that will key into it depends on your commitment and transparency. You must not only be fair to all, you must be seen to be fair, to avoid complaints and condemnation of these noble steps towards a more secured nation,” Audi said.

The CG maintained that the Nigerian government through the Minister of Interior is highly interested in the assignment given to them and warned that no act of levity will be condoned.

On the guiding principles that must be followed, he explained that “all applications must be treated promptly, fairly, and uniformly.”

“The training must spread across all the Geopolitical zones, all existing guards in the industry must be trained and certified as a priority, strict compliance with the outlined criteria and no form of compromise should be tolerated whatsoever,” Audi stated.

The CG explained that a joint training committee consisting of representatives of the Corps and the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) was constituted. The Committee is saddled with the responsibility to suggest ways and forms of training that would be required to professionalise man guarding in Nigeria.

He added that the same committee metamorphosed into the training implementation committee whose duty is to ensure accreditation of training centres, to ensure uniform training of guards in conjunction with the Corps.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the National President of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Mr Chris Adigwu, described their inauguration as a great beginning for the Private Guard industry in Nigeria.

On behalf of his colleagues, he pledged to be fair, saying; “We won’t compromise as directed by the government… Our standard will be much improved.”

Adigwu reiterated that no industry makes progress without standardisation, stressing that if guards are not trained, regulators and practitioners would be affected.

He commended the Commandant General for being passionate about the growth of the private security industry in Nigeria which he explained is demonstrated in words and action.

Mercy Chukwudiebere