The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory Command, has trained 260 private guard operatives from 40 private security companies on modern security management, threat detection and emergency response.
The five-day training, which ran from August 10 to 14, 2026, was organised to strengthen the capacity of private security personnel to respond effectively to emerging security threats and support government security agencies in protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory.
The training ended on Friday with a passing-out ceremony held at the newly commissioned FCT Command Training Ground in Abuja.
Olusola Odumosu, FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, said the changing nature of crime and insecurity had made continuous training and retraining imperative for personnel operating in the private security sector.
Odumosu said private security operations had evolved beyond the traditional responsibilities of guarding gates and checking visitors, stressing that modern security operatives must possess the capacity to identify threats, detect suspicious behaviour, manage access, communicate effectively, respond to emergencies, protect critical facilities and preserve security-related information.
He said, ‘Security personnel must never stop learning,’ adding that the refresher programme was designed to update the participants’ knowledge, correct outdated practices and expose them to contemporary approaches to security management.
According to him, private guard company training should not end with a passing-out ceremony, as the NSCDC FCT Command would sustain a continuous cycle of training and retraining to keep operatives abreast of emerging security threats and appropriate response mechanisms.
The NSCDC commandant described private security operatives as important stakeholders in Nigeria’s national security architecture, noting that government security agencies could not single-handedly provide security across the country.
He explained that private guards were often positioned in residential estates, businesses, hotels, financial institutions, construction sites, telecommunications facilities, corporate offices and other locations where they could detect suspicious activities before conventional security agencies became involved.
‘Your ability to recognise, document and appropriately report suspicious activities can help prevent crime before it occurs,’ Odumosu said.
He therefore urged the operatives to take their responsibilities seriously, warning that their conduct, professional judgment and ability to respond appropriately to security situations could either strengthen or undermine the safety of the organisations and communities they were employed to protect.
He advised the graduates to develop what he described as a mindset of security consciousness, vigilance and responsibility by understanding their operating environments, identifying vulnerabilities, observing unusual changes and reporting suspicious activities promptly to the appropriate authorities.
Odumosu said the NSCDC, which has statutory responsibility for the regulation, monitoring, supervision and licensing of private guard companies, viewed the private security industry as a strategic partner in securing the FCT and the country.
He said the command would continue to engage private security companies through training, professional guidance, supervision, collaboration and enforcement where necessary.
The commandant, however, urged private security companies to ensure that their personnel were properly trained, adequately equipped and treated with dignity.
‘Professional security requires professional personnel, and professional personnel require appropriate training, remuneration and welfare,’ he said.
He also called on private security companies to strengthen their internal reporting mechanisms and establish effective channels for communicating with relevant security agencies whenever security situations required external intervention.
The NSCDC boss stressed the importance of the role played by private security operatives in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure in the FCT.
He noted that Abuja, beyond being Nigeria’s administrative capital, hosts government institutions, diplomatic missions, financial institutions, communication facilities, transportation infrastructure, residential communities, businesses and other strategic installations.
According to him, the protection of such facilities requires a coordinated security architecture involving government agencies, private security companies, businesses and communities.
He warned that a seemingly minor security breach could escalate into a major incident if not identified and addressed promptly.
Odumosu therefore urged private guards not to regard their duties as routine employment, but to understand the security implications of the facilities and communities they were protecting.
‘Do not merely perform security duties as a routine job. Understand the environment. Know the vulnerabilities. Observe changes. Ask appropriate questions. Report suspicious activities to us immediately and leave the rest to us,’ he said.
He further cautioned the operatives against compromising their professional responsibilities for personal gain and urged them to maintain proper security records.
Odumosu also called on private guard companies to invest more deliberately in the training, welfare and professional development of their personnel.
He argued that companies could not expect high standards of professionalism from security guards while neglecting their welfare, equipment, working conditions and continuous training.
‘Professional security requires professional treatment of security personnel,’ he said.
He consequently urged operators in the sector to deepen their partnership with the NSCDC through information sharing, professional engagement, accountability and mutual respect.
Lucky Ojealaro, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), FCT Zone, commended the NSCDC FCT Command for organising the capacity-building programme.
Ojealaro described the training as another important step towards strengthening professionalism and standardisation in the private security sector in the FCT.
He commended Odumosu and the command for what he described as visionary leadership and commitment to professionalism, discipline and collaboration with the private security industry.
According to him, the association welcomed the partnership between the NSCDC and private security practitioners, noting that continued training would contribute to improved security operations across the territory.
He urged the graduating operatives to immediately apply the knowledge acquired during the programme to their official responsibilities.
Ojealaro described the NSCDC as a regulator and ‘big brother’ to the private security industry, while pledging continued collaboration with the Corps to improve standards and promote global best practices among private guard companies.
The NSCDC commandant reminded the 260 graduating operatives that the conclusion of the five-day programme should mark the beginning of a renewed professional commitment rather than the end of their learning.
He urged them to share the knowledge acquired with colleagues, improve their daily security practices, remain observant and disciplined, respond professionally to emergencies and embrace continuous learning.
He said every threat identified, incident prevented and life protected by a private security operative contributes to national peace, stability and economic development.
Odumosu also expressed appreciation to the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for his emphasis on training, professional development and capacity building within the Corps and the wider security sector.
He equally commended ALPSPN, the participating private security companies, instructors, facilitators and officers of the NSCDC for their contribution to the success of the programme.
He said the command remained open to constructive engagement and capacity-building initiatives capable of raising security standards across the FCT.
The commandant stressed that security was a collective responsibility requiring the combined efforts of the police, military, NSCDC, intelligence agencies, government institutions, private security companies, businesses, communities and individual citizens.
He urged all stakeholders to work towards creating a security environment in which residents could live without fear, businesses could operate with confidence and citizens could participate peacefully in the country’s democratic processes.