Three private security businesses were shut down by the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for failing to register and renew their licences on Wednesday.
Ochacho Security and Justigo Security and Allied Services were sealed for non-renewal of licence while Maco Security Services was sealed for not registering with the agency as mandated by law.
Some of the sealed PGCs’ guards were detained by the leadership.
Olusola Odumosu, the NSCDC’s FCT Commandant, said that all unregistered and non-renewed PGCs are prohibited from operating since doing so is against the law, illegal, and a threat to national security.
Odumosu observed that “sealing these three private guard companies for threatening internal and national security, failure to renew the licence when due, refusal to be subjected to the licensing authority, employing guards without approval and failure to register as a private guard company.”
The commandant stated, “We are sanitising the private guard industry,” and added that monitoring and enforcement activities involving PGCs in the FCT will continue.
Odumosu stressed:
“It is about internal security. The country is facing many security challenges and that is why the corps must be on its toes. If we compromise internal security, one is indirectly compromising national security.”
“We will not allow quacks to take over the business of security in this country.
“Once they fulfil all the necessary requirements, we will unseal this place and they will continue their businesses.”
cc: Punch Ng
