Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr Olusola Odumosu has threatened to seal off all Private Guard Companies (PGCs) operating with expired licenses, urging the affected companies to ensure immediate renewal of their licenses.
Odumosu revealed that at the moment the FCT has 460 operationally licensed PGCs, noting that the 460 PGCs have been legally operating since August 2023 till date while three companies were sealed for operating illegally.
The Command Public Relations Officer, Samuel Idoko conveyed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the FCT boss also called on PGCs to ensure their operatives desist from using uniforms or accouterments belonging to other military or paramilitary agencies.
Odumosu said, “those due for license renewal should go and renew their Licenses, those using uniforms or accoutrement of military or paramilitary agencies should desist from such immediately to avoid all forms of misrepresentation.”
According to the Commandant, the 460 licensed PGCs have a record of 42,645 registered private security operatives.
He added that since he assumed office on August 15, 2023, the Command has conducted training and re-training for guards of 20 PGCs and that plans were on the way to train many more before the end of the year.
He, however, urged PGC owners to inculcate the habit of continuous training and re-training of their operatives as security trends evolve regularly. He told them that as the command trains them, they should step down the training to others.
“There are emerging security tips and technological advancements that will be beneficial to these private security outlets.
“Same way they can learn from us, it will also be an avenue to ensure there are no security gaps between the Corps and the companies which it regulates.