Eniola Yekini
The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have urged private security companies to embrace regular training and retraining of personnel to improve service delivery.
The agencies made the call on Friday in Abuja at the inauguration of Footprint Guards and Security Services Ltd., a newly licensed private security company in Kuje Area Council.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Kuje, CSP David Samuel, described the establishment of the company as a welcome development that would complement police efforts.
He expressed optimism that the firm would operate professionally, citing the integrity of its founder and the procedures followed in obtaining its licence.
“As you can see, the DSS, the Police, the Civil Defence, the Road Safety and other stakeholders are all represented in the inauguration. This goes a long way to show that the firm is ready to deliver excellent security services.
“Training and retraining is key to effective and efficient security service delivery, and no security platform can succeed without it, no matter your level of intelligence.
“With the body language of the chairman of the outfit, I am convinced that he will do the needful in terms of training and retraining of his personnel,” Samuel said.
He said the establishment aligns with the community policing policy of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, adding that private guards are expected to expand coverage, identify crime-prone areas, provide useful information and apprehend criminals.
Also speaking, the Second-in-Command of Kuje Central Division of the NSCDC, SC Funmilola Seyi-Fatoyinbo, said the company’s operations would strengthen security, noting that security is a collective responsibility.
“So if Footprint Guard Company is being established today to synergise with other security agencies, I think that will help to forestall evil vices and reduce criminality in Kuje.
“The NSCDC has the responsibility to sensitise, train and retrain its personnel and personnel of private guard companies to operate in accordance with the law and regulations.
“The idea is to ensure that nobody’s rights is trampled upon, so our desire is to see that personnel of the company operates within the law without abuse,” she said.
The Chairman of the company, Mr Victor Onyekachi, said it would prioritise welfare, training and retraining of personnel.
“As a matter of fact, it is our corporate policy to ensure that we pay minimum wage, and we will not be like some other security companies that underpay their guards,” Onyekachi said.
He said he has experience in security training, having conducted training for the Nigeria Police Force and facilitated training for the judiciary, adding that the police and NSCDC would be involved in training guards to enhance operational capacity.