Ilorin, Kwara State
Key stakeholders in the security sector have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing security across Kwara State and Nigeria following a strategic stakeholders’ meeting between the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Kwara State Chapter, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The meeting, held at the NSCDC State Headquarters in Ilorin on Thursday, focused on strengthening collaboration between private security operators and the Corps, addressing emerging security challenges, and exploring practical measures to improve security service delivery.
Declaring the meeting open on behalf of the State Commandant, the Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC, Isaac Aiyelabowo, stressed the importance of thorough background checks during the recruitment of security personnel. He cautioned private security operators against employing undocumented foreigners or accepting non-Nigerians as guarantors, warning that some individuals may conceal their true identities to gain employment and establish illegal residency in the country.
Aiyelabowo also encouraged private security firms to take advantage of the various training programmes organized by the NSCDC, describing continuous professional development as critical to enhancing operational effectiveness and professionalism within the industry.
Speaking on personnel welfare, the Deputy Commandant urged private security companies to adopt a minimum salary of ₦50,000 for security guards. He noted that improved welfare packages would reduce the risk of compromise and strengthen the commitment of security personnel to safeguarding lives and property.
Also speaking at the meeting, former Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, who now operates within the private security sector, called for a harmonized salary structure across security companies to ensure fair and equitable remuneration for personnel in the industry.
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In his remarks, the Chairman of ALPSPN, Kwara State Chapter, Dr. Samuel Yusuf Bola, welcomed the proposal to improve the welfare of private security personnel. He further appealed to the NSCDC to intensify public sensitization campaigns on the importance of engaging only registered and licensed private security firms as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity in Kwara State and across the country.
The association also urged the NSCDC to engage relevant authorities on the possibility of permitting qualified private security personnel to bear arms. According to ALPSPN, such a policy could strengthen the capacity of private security operatives to protect lives and property and respond more effectively to emerging security threats.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from both the NSCDC and ALPSPN to deepen collaboration, promote professionalism, and work collectively towards building a safer and more secure society.
