The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, on Thursday, threatened to arrest and prosecute unlicensed guards from the Private Guard Companies.
Audi also threatened to sanction PGCs for the employment and deployment of unlicensed guards.
The NSCDC CG states this while handing over licences to 44 PGCs in Abuja.
Audi instructed that all licensed PGCs must operate within the required standard in order to reduce the rising state of insecurity in the country.
He said “Thereafter, all guards shall be licensed before deployment while unlicensed guards shall be arrested, prosecuted and their companies sanctioned for employment and deployment of unlicensed guards.
“You are today, receiving your licence towards the end of a regime when we have some disgruntled elements threatening the unity and peace of this nation during handing over.
“Your first assignment is to be vigilant during this period, report to the corps any suspicious gathering and most importantly engage a damage control measure before adequate response from government security agencies.
“You are expected, as a matter of compulsion, to turn in an intelligence report on a monthly basis and anyone that is of urgent importance must be turned in immediately as companies shall be held responsible for any breach of security that occurs in their beats.”
Audi, however, expressed optimism that the companies will live up to expectations for being licensed, adding that the Corps will not spare any company that deviates from the rules.
He noted “We want to believe that you will maintain the qualities that qualify you for this licence, be of high integrity and by extension, good ambassadors of the corps. You would have known, judging by the process, that we do not compromise.
“Therefore, we shall not hesitate to wield the big hammer on any company whose directors deviate from these set standards.”
Also, speaking during the first Commandant General’s Conference for the Year 2023, in Abuja, the CG warned some personnel not to be found wanting of any misconduct or face the consequences.
Audi said “I am, however, aware that some state commandants are still not measuring up to expectation in the execution of our core mandate. I, therefore, want to sound a note of warning to all commandants presently in command positions to either sit up or be shown the red flag. Be reminded that the corps is blessed with a crop of well-grounded and intelligent officers who can take up command positions diligently with better results.
“The management will therefore not hesitate to deal appropriately with anyone in a command position, found wanting in the discharge of his duties.”