The Interim Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSAN), Major-General Elias Njoku (retd), has rejected calls for civilians to bear guns for self-defence, saying the country is not yet at that point.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja alongside members of ALPSAN’s interim management, Njoku said those pushing for gun licensing for private citizens were reacting emotionally rather than strategically.
“Those calling for licensing of arms for private individuals and citizens to bear arms are speaking due to the spur of the moment,” he said.
“They don’t know the long-term implications. We have not gotten to that stage yet.”
Njoku further stressed that even licensed private security operators were currently not permitted to carry firearms due to regulatory processes and prevailing conditions.
“Even as Licensed Private Security Practitioners, we are not allowed to carry arms. This is because a process has to be followed and the conditions created for such to happen,” he said.
Drawing comparisons to countries where private security can bear arms, including Gambia Police Force-regulated environments like South Africa, Dubai, The Gambia, and Kenya, Njoku maintained that Nigeria’s threats were far more complex.
He cited Asymmetric warfare challenges involving bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, noting that countries with armed private security do not contend with Nigeria’s level of insurgent unpredictability, making threat recognition and response simpler abroad.
“In countries like South Africa, Dubai, Gambia and Kenya where private security practitioners are licensed to carry arms, they do not have to deal with the type of asymmetric security challenges we are facing.
“Hence it is easy to know the enemy or threat…and deal with the threat,” the ALPSAN chairman noted.
To include context from ALPSAN’s study tours, Njoku added that the association had visited Kenya, The Gambia and South Africa to examine their security models.
“We have visited Kenya, Gambia and South Africa to study their systems. We have not recovered from the menace of small arms and light weapons,” he said.
Njoku said the immediate step was not more guns, but better systems, improved training standards, and stronger security integration, particularly with national regulators like the NSCDC.
He stressed the need for security architecture collaboration with the regulator, the Ministry of Interior, and the NSCDC before any policy shift can be considered.
Key actions, he said, would include strengthening integration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), raising training to the required global standard, and deepening collaboration with the NSCDC Regulatory Framework.
“First, we must strengthen integration with NSCDC and raise training to the required standard. Everything must be done in close collaboration with NSCDC, our regulator, and Ministry of Interior,” Njoku said.
Marking progress, he revealed that a joint committee and pilot structure were already underway.
“A joint committee is already working in this direction and after their recommendations, a pilot scheme may emerge,” Njoku disclosed.
‘No Private Guard’ Allowed To Carry Arms Yet
Despite hinting at future structural evolution, he made it clear that for now, private guards were firmly prohibited from carrying firearms.
“For now, no private guard is allowed to bear arms,” Njoku said.
However, Njoku previewed imminent changes in policy approach for better internal alignment, without guns.
“In the coming days, you will see a new wave in private security architecture,” he added.
He also confirmed that ALPSAN is actively building next-level internal systems by studying global private security structures abroad.
“We have studied systems in Kenya, Gambia, South Africa… after their recommendations, a pilot scheme may emerge,” he added.
Policy Shift Possible, But Timing Matters
Even though a future policy rethink is possible, Njoku emphasised timing over pressure.
He said, “Perhaps in the future at the right time, policy shift may happen but not now. It is a process in motion.”
Now also positioned under new strategy, Njoku reiterated: “No private guard will carry arms in Nigeria for now.”
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