The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, on Thursday, said it has issued operational licenses to 41 new private guard companies.
The NSCDC spokesman, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The statement quoted the Commandant General, NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, as tasking the PGCs to operate within a national framework in contributing to the peace and security of the nation.
The statement read, “Use your experience to promote public interest and socioeconomic growth, which only thrive in a crime-free environment.
“As you join the league of players in this industry, you should not compromise standards. The provisions of the PGC Act and regulation must be strictly adhered to.”
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He warned that “national security must not be sacrificed on the altar of pursuit for business profit,” adding that “companies who violate the ethical codes of operation would be sanctioned and penalised accordingly.”
The NSCDC helmsman called on the operators to ensure prompt submission of security reports and to constantly share intelligence with the corps.
The guest speaker, Maj. Gen. Obidah Ethan, in a lecture organised as part of orientation for the new entrants, asserted that PGCs had a major role to place to check security threats in the country.