By Palma Ileye
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, has trained 260 private security operatives drawn from 40 private guard companies in the Federal Capital Territory on modern security management.
The five-day refresher training, which ran from August 10 to 14, 2026, ended on Friday with a passing-out ceremony held at the newly commissioned FCT Command Training Ground, Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of private security operatives to respond effectively to emerging security threats.
Odumosu stressed the need for security personnel to continuously update their knowledge and skills, noting that the security environment had become increasingly complex, dynamic and technology-driven.
According to him, private security duties now go beyond guarding gates and checking visitors, as operatives are expected to identify threats, monitor suspicious behaviour, manage access, communicate effectively, respond to emergencies and protect critical facilities.
He said, “Security personnel must never stop learning,” stressing that training and retraining should be a continuous process rather than something that ends with a passing-out ceremony.
The Commandant described private security operatives as important stakeholders in Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that they were often the first to observe suspicious movements, unauthorised access, unusual behaviour and other potential security breaches.
He urged the operatives to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to relevant security agencies.
“Your ability to recognise, document and appropriately report suspicious activities can help prevent crime before it occurs,” he said.
Odumosu also called on private guard companies to invest more in the training, welfare, equipment and professional development of their personnel.
He noted that the NSCDC, which has the statutory responsibility for the regulation, monitoring, supervision and licensing of private guard companies, would continue to collaborate with the sector through training, professional guidance and effective supervision.
The Commandant urged private security companies operating in the FCT to regard the NSCDC as a strategic partner rather than merely a regulator.
He said stronger collaboration, information sharing, accountability and mutual respect between government security agencies and private security practitioners were necessary to build a safer Federal Capital Territory.
Odumosu further charged the graduating operatives to apply the knowledge acquired during the training in their various places of assignment.
He said the certificates presented to them should serve as reminders of their responsibility to protect lives and property, rather than merely documents for their personnel files.
He urged them to remain observant, disciplined, professional and responsive, while committing themselves to continuous learning.
The Commandant expressed appreciation to the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for his continued emphasis on training, professional development and capacity building within the Corps and the wider security sector.
He also commended the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), FCT Zone, for its collaboration with the NSCDC in strengthening professional standards in the private security sector.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of ALPSPN, FCT Zone, Chief Lucky Ojealaro, commended Odumosu for his leadership and commitment to capacity building and collaboration with private security practitioners.
Ojealaro said the association appreciated the NSCDC for creating opportunities for private security operatives to improve their professional knowledge and operational capacity.
He described the NSCDC as “the regulator and big brother we are proud of,” while urging the graduates to immediately apply the knowledge acquired during the training to their official duties.
He also called for continued collaboration between the NSCDC and private security companies to promote standardisation and global best practices in security operations across the FCT.
The ceremony was attended by senior NSCDC officers, executives of ALPSPN, chairmen and chief executive officers of private guard companies, instructors, facilitators, graduating operatives and members of the media.
The NSCDC FCT Command reaffirmed its commitment to continuous training and retraining of private security personnel as part of efforts to strengthen security and protect lives and property in the nation’s capital.
