FG to review private security law to address current threats

The Federal Government has announced plans to review the Private Security Companies Act of 1986 to align it with Nigeria’s current security challenges and international best practices.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of Interior, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the 5th Private Security Industry Summit and 9th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN).

According to a statement by Mary Ali, Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, the minister emphasised the growing importance of private security companies in Nigeria’s national security architecture, particularly in intelligence gathering and crime prevention.

“We are at a time in Nigeria where private security companies are key to what we want to achieve. We don’t just need you for security, but also for gathering credible and factual intelligence,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He noted that the private security sector currently employs over one million Nigerians, making it a significant contributor to the nation’s economy and internal stability.

He added that the review of the 1986 Act would create a stronger regulatory framework that ensures professionalism, accountability, and competitiveness within the industry.

The goal, the minister said, is to make private security operators globally competitive and professionally managed, in line with international standards.

Tunji-Ojo further stressed that a coordinated and empowered private security industry is essential to complement the work of state security agencies and improve overall national security outcomes.

Speaking at the event, Ahmed Audi, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), described the summit as timely, noting that it provides a crucial platform for policy discussions that can enhance the growth, regulation, and integration of private security companies into the national security framework.

He reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to continued collaboration with ALPSPN to strengthen intelligence sharing and operational synergy in the fight against insecurity.

In his remarks, Chris Adigwu, President of ALPSPN, said the summit was designed to help identify operational gaps in the industry and develop strategies to build a more unified and resilient private security system that supports Nigeria’s broader security objectives.

Adigwu commended the government’s decision to review the outdated legislation, describing it as a step that would “usher in a new era of professionalism and recognition” for the private security industry.