NSCDC Declares Security Outfit Without License Illegal

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has advised newly established state and regional security outfits in the country to get such licensed as required by law.

Commandant-General of the Corps, Mr Abdullahi Gana, gave the advice in Abuja on Friday, according to his Media Assistant, Mr Soji Alabi.

Alabi said in a statement that Gana spoke while presenting the personnel databases of private guard companies and vigilante groups in the country to the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.

According to him, the NSCDC Act empowers the PGC Department of the corps to license, supervise and monitor activities of private guard companies in Nigeria.

He quoted Gana as telling the minister that security outfits operated by some state governors had been licensed by the PGC Department of the corps.

The CG reportedly cited outfits like the Niger Guards operated by the Niger State Government, and Taraba Marshals of the Taraba State Government, among others.

He urged other states and regional security outfits to also get legal backing for their operations by applying to the Corps for license.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the advice was coming barely three weeks after the launch of Amotekun, a regional security body by six governors in the South-West.

On January 23, the Federal Government and South-West governors reached an agreement that the outfit should be aligned with the government’s community policing strategy.

On the databases, Alabi said they were produced in line with Section 10 of the Private Guard Companies Act 1986 which requires data capturing for every Private Guard Company and its members operating in Nigeria.

He said, “The measure is aimed at crime control, professionalism and weeding out of foreigners in the industry.

“The database contains the detail background information and biometrics of every member of private guard operators and vigilante groups in Nigeria.

“Efforts are being made to make copies of the databases available to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Directorate of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies in Nigeria.”

Responding, the minister commended the CG for a job well done and promised to assist where necessary.

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