An expert in security matters and National President of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr Chris Adigwu, said security companies had a wide presence in the country, stressing that the private guards were ready to join in the fight against kidnapping in schools and estates.
On January 30, 2024, six pupils, two teachers and a driver of Apostolic Faith Church Primary and Secondary School, Emure, Ekiti State were abducted in Eporo-Ekiti while being transported home after school hours.
On March 6, at least 287 pupils were reportedly kidnapped when terrorists on motorcycles stormed their school at Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, whisking them away in an operation that drew condemnation and outrage from the Presidency and the global community, including the UN children’s welfare agency, UNICEF.
Adigwu, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, noted that the private guard security companies would help relieve the burden on security agencies if properly involved.
He said, “The private security companies have presence virtually in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. Our numerical strength and expertise makes us an excellent partner with the state actors as regards intelligence gathering capabilities.
“Definitely the private security company will greatly help reduce the burden on the statutory forces with the better collaboration and creation of a stronger regulatory and legal framework for us to carry out our responsibilities.”
The national president, however, called for a review of the law setting up private security companies so their personnel can bear arms.
“There is urgent need for the repeal or amendment of the 1986 PGC Act to give room for legislation that meets the necessary provisions in line with industry best practices,” he responded when asked if the association was pushing to have legislation in place that would allow the private security guards to carry arms.
He further lamented that most clients, including government agencies were not paying up as mandated.
Adigwu said, “We are one of the biggest employers of labour in this country. The challenge mostly faced by our members is the issue of guards’ salaries, which is highly dependent on what the client pays. Our operational costs have increased significantly in recent times.
“As of today, a lot of our members are being owed so much money running into hundreds of millions of naira by clients, including government agencies. We are offering essential services, the least such agencies can do is to pay for security services rendered.”