Amen Estate: Sales and Lettings of Exquisite Homes, Apartments in a Serene, Secured Environment

Amen Estate has raised the bar and will continue to remain a yardstick for benchmarking exquisite real estates in Nigeria in the foreseeable future. This explains why ''Amen'' as it popularly called, is a place of choice for the crème de la crème of the Nigerian society and expatriate community.

Central Bank of Nigeria Orders Banks, Others To Donate to Terror Support Fund

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and discount houses to donate to the Victims Support Fund Committee, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to raise funds to assist victims of Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 2,053 civilians in the first half of this year in 95 attacks.

The 26-member committee, chaired by former Minister of Defence, Lt.- Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, was inaugurated last week by Jonathan in Abuja.
The directive, which was “more or less like an appeal,” was given in Lagos yesterday by CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at a breakfast meeting with banks’ managing directors and those of other financial institutions.

New Telegraph had exclusively reported yesterday that the CBN governor summoned the bank chiefs to a meeting without disclosing any agenda.
At the meeting, which held at the CBN new head office complex, Emefiele was said to have told the bank chiefs that President Goodluck Jonathan had appealed to him to seek the support of the financial institutions to contribute to the terror support fund.
One of the participants at the meeting confided in New Telegraph that the bank chiefs told Emefiele that for such funds to be donated, they would have to seek approvals from their respective boards.

The bank chiefs who were said to have been looking forward to the meeting, being Emefiele’s first breakfast forum with them, were said to be disappointed, as they had thought it was issues in the industry that would be discussed. “The meeting was a bloody waste of time.
We thought the meeting was called to discuss the issues and challenges facing the industry but to our surprise, it was basically to discuss Chibok and terrorist issues,” the source said.

Emefiele’s predecessor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had also coaxed banks to donate to the Disaster Relief Fund. Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan had written a letter to the National Assembly seeking the approval to borrow $1 billion to fight Boko Haram, which has killed about 15,000 people in the five years of its campaign of terror.

At the inauguration of the Victims Support Fund Committee, which happened on the day his letter to the National Assembly seeking approval to borrow $1 billion was read to lawmakers, Jonathan had told the members to mobilise collective efforts and resources in support of terror victims.

He urged Nigerians and non-Nigerians, individuals and cooperate bodies, to give generously to the fund.
Besides Danjuma and former Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc. Managing Director, Mr. Fola Adeola, who is the deputy chairman, other members of the committee include Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Abdulsamad I. Rabiu, Alhaji Sani Dauda, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija and Mr. Cosmas Maduka.

Also on the committee are former Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc., Mr. Jim Ovia, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc., Mr. Wale Tinubu and Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi.

New Telegraph

Update On Nigerian Air Force Helicopter Crash: Missing Crew Member Found Alive

The crew member, who was declared missing when his body could not be located in the vicinity of the crash, resurfaced at the military headquarters in Maiduguri today, having trekked through the bushes after the crash.

It is thus confirmed that Flight Lieutenant NM Halilu, Co-Pilot, and Warrant Officer Augustine Nwanonenyi, the aircraft technician, survived the crash while Flight Lieutenant Onyeka Nwakile was the only one lost in the crash. The family of the officer has been duly informed while the two survivors are in stable condition but receiving medical attention. 

Meanwhile, search and rescue operation on the incident has been concluded, while investigation into the crash continues.

CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Major General
Director Defence Information

SR

Multiple Bombs in North Nigeria's Kaduna Kill at Least 82

KADUNA Nigeria (Reuters) - Two bomb blasts in the north Nigerian city of Kaduna killed at least 82 people on Wednesday, officials said, in attacks that bore the hallmarks of violent Islamist group Boko Haram.

A suicide bomber targeting a moderate Muslim cleric killed at least 32 of the cleric's congregation on a busy commercial road. Shortly after, a second bomb blast killed 50 people in the crowded Kawo market on Wednesday, a local Red Cross worker on the scene, who declined to be named, told Reuters.
Thousands were gathered for prayers with Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Murtala Muhammed square, and when his convoy pulled up, the bomber lunged at him before being stopped by his private security, witnesses and police said.

"The attack was targeted at the sheikh. No arrest has been made yet," said police commissioner Shehu Umar.
The bomb did not injure Bauchi, several witnesses told Reuters. Mustafa Sani, a volunteer for Bauchi's mosque evacuating bodies, said there were 32 confirmed dead so far.

"Somebody with a bomb vest ... was blocked. He detonated the bomb along with the person that tried to block him," Umar said, adding that police had only been able to confirm 25 dead, with 14 wounded.
Police sometimes give lower casualty tolls than workers on the scene.
A Reuters reporter saw blood and body parts scattered on the Alkali Road in the city centre. The military used pick-up trucks to cordon off the area.
Sirens wailed as fire engines raced to the scene. An angry crowd started throwing stones at police, who responded by dispersing them with tear gas.
Some followers had come from Senegal, Chad and Niger to see the popular sheikh.

BOKO HARAM SUSPECTED
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either blast, but Islamist militant group Boko Haram
has been staging attacks, especially with explosives, outside its northeastern heartlands in the past three months.
Since launching an insurgency in 2009, the militants have often attacked clerics, like Bauchi, who take issue with their Salafist ideology. If Boko Haram is responsible for Wednesday's attack, it underscores the risks moderate clerics take speaking out against it.

The insurgents, who are fighting to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria, have repeatedly targeted civilians this year, mostly in remote northeastern
Borno state. They killed more than 2,000 civilians during the first half of this year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimated a week ago.

Courtesy:
Reuters:

Nigeria Ranks High in Global "Terrorism" Casualty Rate - Maplecroft Report

Nigeria has the world’s highest casualty rate from "terrorism'' with an average of 24 deaths per attack out of 146 recorded in the year through June, according to
risk consultancy Maplecroft.

The global average is two deaths per attack, the Bath, U.K.-based group said in a report released today titled
the Maplecroft Terrorism and Security Dashboard.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, recorded 3,477 deaths in those attacks as violence by the Boko Haram
Haram Islamist militants grew in scale and sophistication, it said.
“The increased capacity of Boko Haram is likely to lead to a further loss of investor confidence,” Maplecroft
said in the report. The latest figures represent a doubling of the 1,735 deaths recorded in the previous year through June 2013, it said.

Boko Haram, whose name means “western education is
a sin,” is waging a five-year-old violent campaign that has killed thousands, to impose Shariah, or Islamic law,
in Africa ’s most populous country of about 170 million people. Nigeria, the continent’s biggest oil producer, is
roughly split between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south.

The group drew global outrage with its April 14 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from their dormitories in the northeastern town of Chibok. Though the U.S.,
France and the U.K. joined the search for the girls, most of them are yet to be rescued.
The militant group claimed three bomb attacks this year in Abuja, the capital, that killed at least 120 people.

Maplecroft ranks Nigeria fifth in its list of “extreme risk”.countries topped by Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and
Somalia. While more people have died in those countries due to more frequent attacks, the average death toll per attack has been lower than Nigeria’s,
according to Maplecroft.

Bloomberg

Cameroon Villages Bordering Nigeria Live in Terror of Boko Haram

Yaounde (Cameroon) (AFP) - In the villages that line the border with Nigeria, even those charged with protecting Cameroonians from Boko Haram fighters fear the fall of
darkness.
"When night falls, we tremble. We don't sleep," said a Cameroonian policeman from a far-northern border
town, on condition of anonymity.
The Nigeria-born Islamist group has stepped up raids into northern Cameroon in recent days, murdering and stealing with impunity despite military efforts to clamp down on their bloody insurgency.

On Sunday local police said one of their officers was killed during an attack on the village of Nariki, 500 metres from Boko Haram's Nigerian stronghold of Tarmoa, adding to scores of deaths from raids on local towns this month.
The militants have long used Cameroon to launch attacks on Nigeria as the border between them is extremely porous, with no buffer-zone clearly separating the two countries.
Earlier this month they stole a pick-up truck and weapons in a raid on a police post in Bomberi, Cameroon, only to abandon it on Nigerian territory where it was found by troops days later, said another Cameroon police officer.

Weapons and goods cross the border freely too: the remote northern Cameroon town of Amchide has
become a hotbed for Boko Haram fighters and a hub for trafficking to finance their recruitment.
Cameroon, like other west African countries, has beefed up its operations against Boko Haram since the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls three months ago sparked an international outcry.
The army claims to have killed many militants in recent weeks and suspected members and collaborators have
been arrested and sent to the capital, Yaounde.

Cameroon's elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) recently destroyed one Boko Haram camp during a foray
across the border into Tarmoa, said the second officer.
Supported by international governments, they have also targeted the Sambisa forest near the shared border where Nigerian authorities believe the kidnapped schoolgirls may still be hidden in the militants' camps.
But Cameroon's efforts have done little to stem Boko Haram's bloody five-year insurgency or stop almost daily attacks that have left local communities living in constant fear.

"Boko Haram is disorganised because of joint operations by the Cameroonian and Nigerian armed forces, but its activists carry out attacks here and there in Cameroon," the second officer said.
The first policeman said the insurgents can easily escape as "they know very well" where the Cameroonian troops are located.

The Islamist group, blamed for slaughtering more than 2,000 civilians already this year, has increasingly targeted remote border communities, razing entire villages.
Two Cameroonian shepherds were killed and 200 cattle stolen by militants on July 10 during a raid in the village of Bame, less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from the Nigerian border, said the first police officer.

Foiled attack -
And suspected Boko Haram fighters kidnapped a 20-year-old Cameroonian earlier this month from the village
of Balgaram after an attack was foiled by the army.
Senior local figures are also being intimidated to stop them from helping the government against Boko Haram.
In Limani, which lies in the flashpoint zone between Nigeria's Tarmoa and Amchide in Cameroon, militants
kidnapped the sons of a traditional chief who has been a go-between for the group.
"They were intimidating the father," said the second police officer. "He's a go-between for Boko Haram, which suspects him of collaborating with Cameroonian forces."

A lack of coordination by military forces -- particularly between Nigeria and Cameroon -- has hampered the efforts to stop the insurgents.
That was made clear during a botched attempt to rescue 10 Chinese road workers who were kidnapped in May.
A negotiator was hurt when a team of Cameroonians sent to bring back the workers in early July was fired on
by the Nigerian army, which was unaware of their operation, said the second officer.

"There is currently a tacit agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon to let soldiers from both countries cross
the border either way during actions against Boko Haram," he added.
But officially, the Yaounde government does not allow any right of pursuit by Nigerian forces on its territory.

Courtesy:
Yahoo News

Fire at Kano Airport; Aircraft Damaged, Fuel Tanker Burnt To Ashes

Fire service officials averted what could have been a tragedy at the Aminu Kano International Airport last night as they scrambled a response to a sudden fire that caught a fuel tanker feeding a Turkish airlines aircraft, a witness has said.
The tanker was however burnt to ashes while the aircraft, an Airbus 340, which was to airlift passengers from Kano to Istanbul, was partly damaged.
The flight was subsequently cancelled with the passengers, most of whom had arrived the airport, disappointed.
Garba Shehu, the Media Consultant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was travelling with his family, told PREMIUM TIMES the aircraft was saved from being completely burnt following a quick decision by officials to hurriedly tow it away from the burning truck.

Mr. Shehu said, “The Airbus 340 aircraft which had the burning truck under its wings made a miraculous escape following a decision to tow it away from the fire just in time before the fuel-laden tanker burst into a towering flame.

“The flight taking my family and I, among many other passengers to Istanbul from Kano was cancelled a short while ago following indications that the aircraft, even though not destroyed, was partly damaged on its wing.
“Fire engines at the airport emptied their contents without any serious impact on the raging fire, which burnt without let until it had consumed the oil tanker.”

The cause of the fire remained unknown as officials of the airport and other aviation authorities could not be reached this morning. Officials of Turkish Airlines could also not be reached as at the time of this report.
PREMIUM TIMES recalls that Kaduna airport was temporarily closed on April 20 after fire ravaged the airport’s control tower, completely destroying the facility.

Flights only resumed a day later at the airport after a mobile control tower was brought in from Abuja.
Authorities said at the time that investigations had been commissioned to determine the cause of the fire.
The result of the investigation is yet to be made public.

Courtesy:
Premium Times

President Jonathan Meets Parents of Abducted Chibok Girls' for First Time

President Goodluck Jonathan has met for the first time with many parents of 219 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls and dozens of classmates who managed
to escape from their Islamic extremist captors.

Tuesday's meeting came after some parents had refused to meet Nigeria's leader last week. For months, they have been asking to see the president
and he finally acceded to a request from Pakistani girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai, who had met the parents.
Jonathan blamed activists of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign for politicising the abductions and influencing the parents. The parents said they needed time to decide who would attend.

Chibok community spokesman Lawan Abana said there were 177 people in the delegation meeting Jonathan and an AP reporter counted 51 of the 57 girls who escaped in the early days after the abduction on 15 April.
At least 11 of the parents have died since then –seven in a village attack this month and four of heart attacks and other illnesses that the Chibok
community blames on the trauma.

Jonathan was accompanied by the education and finance ministers, and his national security adviser.
Jonathan and his team walked to a stage above the waiting parents and girls, and journalists were asked to leave. Also present was governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state, from where the girls were abducted. Shettima has accused Jonathan of not doing enough to save the girls and has angered the government with his charges that Boko Haram fighters are better armed and more motivated than Nigeria's military.
Some of the parents and community leaders of the Chibok town from which the girls were kidnapped have made public statements urging Jonathan to negotiate with the girls' captors. Boko Haram is demanding a swap for detained fighters in exchange for the girls. So far, Jonathan has refused.

Courtesy:
The Guardian

Boko Haram Abducts Politician’s Wife and Two Children in Borno State

Suspected members of Boko Haram have kidnapped the wife and two children of Alhaji Zaraye Mala Sheriff, a Councillor in Borno state who is reported to be a cousin of former Borno state, governor, Ali Modu Sheriff.

A source told Daily Trust that the men stormed the Ngala town residence of the politician in the early hours of Friday July 18th.
“The insurgents stormed the house of the councillor around 12:30am on Friday and asked the wife about her husband. They also asked her for the money he kept at home but she kept quiet.
Luckily enough, Zaraye was at the other side of the house and when he heard the conversation, he fled,” a source from Ngala said.
He said angered by her silence and the absence of their target, the sect members took her and her two children away.
“Up till now, nothing has been heard of the woman and her kids. We have not heard anything about the two businessmen either,” he said.

Two other politicians, Alhaji Annur Mohammed and Liman Alhaji Hussaini were also reportedly kidnapped by the sect men.
Meanwhile there are reports that Maiduguri metropolis and its environs have been without power in the last
three weeks following the destruction of electricity installations around Damboa town, 85 kilometers away from the state capital.

A senior official of the utility firm supplying the state with power, the Yola Electricity Distribution Company
(YEDC) said the attack by Boko Haram members in the last three weeks around Damboa caused “huge damage” to their 33KVA installations.
“The problem is aggravated by the security situation around Damboa which makes it difficult for our men to
effect repairs. The truth is that it will take time before electricity would be restored in Maiduguri and environs,”
he said.

Courtesy:
Nollywood Magazine

BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 Helicopter Crashes In Borno

A Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 Helicopter on a training mission has crashed, the Defence Headquarters has said.
The jet crashed this afternoon due to technical fault at a location South of Bama, Defence spokesperson, Chris
Olukolade, said in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES.
The statement did not say whether anyone was killed or injured in the crash.
Mr. Olukolade, a Major General, said investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances leading to the accident.

He however said the accident was not a result “of any enemy action”.
Further details on the crash, Mr. Olukolade said, would be made known as investigation progresses.
Bama is one of the locations in the North-east state of Borno where the extremist Boko Haram sect has
intensified its terrorist activities.

The Nigerian military has continued to launch ground and aerial assaults on the area to crush the terrorists.
The Boko Haram sect has killed more than 12,000 people since it began its insurgency about five years ago.

Courtesy:
Premium Times

The Private Security & Investigation Industry in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward

Written by: Don Okereke

Preamble

Security and safety are sine qua non for human existence, survival and development. Renowned Greek historian-Herodotus was said to have opined two millennial ago that: ‘’great deeds are usually wrought at great risks’’. This assertion is apt in our increasingly precarious dog-eat-dog world. It follows that no individual, business or government will thrive in an atmosphere of wanton unpredictability and insecurity. Because it is difficult to place a price tag on peace of mind, governments, organizations and individuals that truly value certainty and peace of mind around the world appropriate huge war chest to Security and safety.

Global Perspective:

Globally, the Private/Industrial Security & Investigation Industry is big business and also a vast employer of labour. A 2013 benchmark study by ASIS International and the Institute of Finance and Management indicates that the United States Security industry is a $350 billion market. A breakdown of this shows $282 billion in private sector spending and $69 billion in federal government spending on homeland security.

The reliance on Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) revved up over the last two decades sequel to incidents and interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Gulf of Aden, Libya, and Liberia amongst others. The September 11 attack on the United States was also a game-changer to the security industry.

At a time it became fashionable for regular combatants to switch sides: disengage from the armed forces and pitch their tent with Private Military Security and Companies because of the mouthwatering offers that the later availed.

The crème de la crème of multimillion billion dollar and most powerful private security companies in the world include: G4S, Securitas AB, ADT, AlliedBarton, DynCorp, Gardaworld, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI International, The Brink's Company, Pinkerton Government Services, International Intelligence Ltd, Erinys International, Andrews International, Defion International, ICTS International, Corps Security, KBR, GK Sierra, Aegis Defence Services, Triple Canopy, ACADEMI (formerly known as Backwater) and Prosegur (said to have 150,000 staff strength) which is more than some countries armed forces.

Security: A Constantly Evolving Industry:

Spent are the days when a poorly dressed, haggard-looking, baton-wielding, amulet-wearing old man opening and closing the gate of an establishment epitomizes a Security Professional. These days it is a norm to see Security Professionals donning three-piece designer suit with silk ties. With Closed Circuit (CCTV) Cameras and other electronic and remote-controlled/Internet Protocol (I.P) Networked Access Control devices/installations; a Security Professional can monitor an entire organization, estate or facility on a laptop in the comfort of a well-furnished office. The Security profession has become more eclectic, complex, inter-connected and ever-expanding. It inter-alia encompasses disciplines like ‘’Enterprise Security Risk Management’’ (ESRM)-identifying risks/vulnerabilities in an establishment and mitigating them, ‘’Security Convergence’’-the inter-dependence of IT, Physical Security, Safety etc in an organization; Fraud/Loss Deterrence; forensic investigation etc. Sure it’s not every so-called ‘Security Man’ or even educated folks are familiar with aforementioned terminologies.

Due to the global and growing demand for the services of talented Professional Security experts, academic programs leading to the awards of B.Sc, M.Sc and PhD's in Security related fields have become very attractive and rewarding. Today, a plethora of Security Professionals are highly educated and can hold their own. 

The Nigerian Experience

By acts of commission or omission, successive administrations in Nigeria have not done enough to nip insecurity in the bud. Most administrations treated the symptom and not the causative agent of the disease leading to a deferment of the evil day.

It beggars belief that a country like Nigeria peopled with about 160 million people has a police force of plausibly 370,000 officers and men. This grossly falls short of the United Nations recommendation of police to people ratio of 1:450. The consequence is that Nigeria Police and other security establishments are ceaselessly over-stretched and overwhelmed.

The aforementioned scenario accentuates the relevance of the Private/Industrial Security and Investigation Industry and professionals in Nigeria. If well-harnessed, the Private Security Industry in Nigeria has the capacity to ameliorate the unprecedented levels of unemployment, crime and insecurity especially now that the country grapples with vestiges of insurgency and terrorism.

Aside Crude Oil, Security is definitely another money sapping and spinning sector in Nigeria. Defence and Police got N319.65bn and N348.91bn respectively, the biggest chunk of the 2013 federal budget.

As I update this article, President Jonathan is seeking approval for a $1 billion loan to be channeled to the fight against Boko Haram. This is in addition to $6 billion allocated to defense and security in the 2014 federal budget. States and Local Governments also set aside their own budgets for Security. Recall that each of the 36 State governors in Nigeria is supposedly entitled to N6bn annually as ‘’Security Vote’’. Some school of thought alleges the monies are often embezzled since the lordly governors don't owe anybody explanations as to how the money is expended. Also bring to mind, the huge amounts that individuals, formal and informal sectors apportion to Security.

The unparalleled and swarming unemployment rate, failure of governance (weak judiciary/other public institutions), unprecedented levels of corruption, culture of impunity, religion fundamentalism/radicalism, inefficient Political system, under-staffed & inadequately trained/equipped/motivated Police force etc has continued to fan the embers of crime, insecurity, terrorism and other social vices in Nigeria.

The exponential trend in instability, insecurity, unpredictability in Nigeria gives rise to a geometrical demand for the services of Private Security Companies and Professionals. Many private and commercial organizations-Banks, Oil companies, Housing estates, embassies, even churches and mosques are increasingly strengthening their Security departments and apparatus.

Buoyed by the flourishing and lucrative business opportunities in the Private Security and Investigation Industry in Nigeria, a lot of foreign Security establishments have made inroads into Nigeria and are smiling to the banks. Aside provision of Guard and ancillary services, sale of Security Gadget is also booming.  Individuals and organizations are spending a great deal to protect their lives and properties since not even the government can guarantee the safety of lives in Nigeria. It is not unusual to see metal and explosive detectors been used to frisk people and cars entering into public offices, churches and mosques. One hopes the so-called ‘’Detectors’’ deployed are state-of-the-art with excellent ‘’Sensitivity and selectivity’’ capabilities. I will return to this sometime.

Challenges Bedeviling the Private Security Industry in Nigeria:

In most Western democracies and other countries where the rule of law holds sway, it is anomalous to see Police officers guarding Private individuals, banks or other commercial establishments. The Police are strictly meant to protect the citizenry. The reverse is the case in Nigeria. Successive Police administrations pay lip-service to ensuring that the Police rigorously cleave to its statutory and constitutional role. Will it amount to letting the cat out of the bag to speculate that Police (MoPol) escort or protection in Nigeria is for the highest bidder? With staff strength of about 370,000 Police officers, Nigeria is grossly under policed. Out of this number, almost every Bank branch in Nigeria boast of say 3-4 Police (MoPol) officers on their payroll not forgetting those attached to foreign embassies and telecommunication companies. All the 774 Local government Chairmen in Nigeria and all the National Assembly members (House of Representatives and the Senate), all Ministers, all 36 state governors, their wives, children, girlfriends, concubines cum relatives, party chieftains, political godfathers, celebrities, money bags amongst others have Police Orderlies. Depending on how close you are to the powers that be, soldiers too can be thrown into the mix. So how many Police officers are actually out there in the streets fighting crime?

The peculiar security challenges bedeviling Nigeria may have extenuated the Police abandoning its statutory role. This status quo has been tolerated for too long and must not become a norm.

Another serious challenge confronting the Private Security Industry in Nigeria apart from its roles been usurped by the police, is the Byzantine bureaucracy and high cost of registering, licensing a Private Security Company and also dearth of professional code of conduct. Again this is also attributed to the fact the agency – the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) tasked with regulating the Private Security Industry is not fit for purpose. Apparently the NSCDC, a Para-military outfit is encumbered and overwhelmed with the onerous responsibility of law enforcement/fighting crimes, chasing Crude oil pipeline vandals etc hence is not well suited to manage Nigeria's Private Security Industry. Regulation of a Sector should not be about increasing cost of registration/acquiring licenses or arbitrarily shutting down erring firms. This does more harm than good leading to genuine Operators operating outside the rules. A regulator will do well to minimize, remove unnecessary bottlenecks and make financial commitments expected from its clients affordable.

A while ago, Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) supposedly slashed the cost of incorporating a Company by upwards of 70%. In addition to duly incorporating a Private Security Company, there is also a requirement to obtain a license from the NSCDC. Research indicates that the process of Incorporating and acquiring a PSC license in Nigeria is pricey and unnecessarily very cumbersome. Inter alia, the NSCDC stipulates that a prospective Private Security Company in Nigeria must have a minimum share capital of ten million naira! It goes further to state that "all directors of the prospective security company must be Nigerians. It is such ill-thought out policies that hamper business activities and discourages prospective foreign investors. It appears this is a paper tiger that is been circumvented anyway. A registration fee of N500, 000 in addition to other sundry levies and probably payment of bungs will accrue the whole cost into millions of naira. After payment of the fee, investigation will be conducted by the State Security Service (SSS) before applications will be considered and approval given by the Minister of Interior. Envision the toll, unnecessary duplication of roles, bureaucracy and bottleneck associated with this process. You see why there is a plethora of unregistered Private Security Companies in Nigeria.

In line with global standards, there is nothing wrong allowing folks legally resident in Nigeria and devoid of criminal character to be a director of a Private Security Company. There are many Nigerians legally resident abroad (not the naturalized citizens of their host country’s) that run Private Security Companies. Two of the richest men in Britain today are Russian born Chelsea football club owner- Roman Abramovich and Indian born steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. They are not UK citizens but I am pretty sure both can own and run a mere Private Security Company in the United Kingdom if they so wish and meet the requirements. A foreigner being the Director of a Private Security Company does not necessarily impinge on National Security. Yes, for Critical National Infrastructures you can insist that the Private Security Company bidding for such a contract must be wholly indigenous. By the way where was this clause, proviso when our ogas-at-the-top reportedly awarded a $40 million "Open Source Internet Monitoring System and Personal Internet Surveillance System" contract to Elbit Systems, an Israeli firm? It is a threat to National security for a non Nigerian to be a Director of a Private Security Company but it is not a threat to ‘outsource’ the private information of plus or minus100 million phone, Internet users in Nigeria to a foreign company. Double speak!

Devoid of a comprehensive database and fingerprints of ex-convicts/felons in Nigeria, it is plausible that a supposed Security Professional is an ex-convict, cultist or even a terrorist. Cases like this abound even in the Police and Armed forces of convicted criminals and dismissed Personnel’s enlisting and re-enlisting into the fold. This is a clarion call to Security Companies, organizations and the government Security Services to stringently vet and do background check on their prospective Security Professionals. 

Envision the far-reaching consequences of inadvertently having a terrorist or an unrepentant ex-convict as a Security Staff of an organization.

Also of contention in Nigerian Private Security circles is whether or not to allow Private Security Professionals to bear arms. Officially PSO’s in Nigeria are not allowed to bear arms but it seems there is a way around this. My take on this is that allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to bear arms may be counter-productive. However if need be, let there be a stringent condition or requirement. I will be more comfortable with ex-servicemen working in Private Security circles bearing arms than a typical civilian with little or no weapon handling or firearms skills.

With the exception of Private Security Operatives (PSO’s) employed by multinational companies, embassies, telecom firms and other big players in the Sector, the remuneration package of an average low skilled PSO in Nigeria is nothing to write home about; plausibly fifteen thousand naira (N15, 000.00) i.e. about $100 a calendar month whereas his counterpart, say a ‘Doorman’ in the street of London or Manchester, with little or no education, earns upwards of twenty pounds (£20) or more an hour! Given the extremely precarious security terrain in Nigeria, a cheering salary/welfare package and life insurance will definitely boost the morale of a PSO in Nigeria. The effort, sacrifices of PSO's in Nigeria must be commended and appreciated.

Instead of esprit de corps, there is subtle rivalry and mutual distrust between mainstream government security agents seconded to most commercial establishments and the in-house Private Security Operatives hired by those organizations. Private Security Operatives simply compliment the efforts of the Police and other Security agencies. They are not in any way competing with mainstream government Security agencies.

Another major issue that has bogged the Private Security and Investigation Industry in Nigeria is the prevalence of unconventional groups like the OPC, Bakassi Boys, Egbesu boys and other local vigilantes. These unconventional groups now vie for Security contracts and they get them because they have all the good contacts in the right places. With Oil Pipeline and Maritime Protection contracts in their kitty, many ex-Niger Delta Militants have metamorphosed into nouveau-riche multi-billionaires.

In South West Nigeria, some organizations, neighborhoods and individuals will use the services of the OPC for security during the night but will not be proud to have those same OPC chaps during the day. It is a well-known fact that most of these irregular Security groups bank on their native charms for their work. There is no doubt that some of the groups mean well and maintain some semblance of social order. However the problem is with their modus operandi which usually leads to extra-judicial killings when a suspect or a culprit is apprehended. Sadly, some mainstream government security agencies are also enmeshed in extra-judicial killings. It beggars belief that a suspected criminal or terrorist in Nigeria will be cut down without extracting sensitive and helpful information from him.

Paper-tiger Professional Security Bodies:

There are about five or so different Private Security Professional Associations in Nigeria vis-à-vis the National Professional Security Association (NPSA), Nigerian Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), the Society of Security Practitioners of Nigeria (SSPN), the Security and Safety Association of Nigeria (SSAN) and the Association of Private Security Practitioners in Nigeria (APSPN).

These professional security associations in Nigeria must present a united front, speak with one voice and fight for the interest of the profession. They must go beyond collecting dues, levies and avenues for networking; they should bark and bite - enforce standards - minimum wage, background checks on prospective PSO's, maximum working hours, basic and ongoing training amongst others.

Certifications, Certifications, Certifications:

The penchant to acquire and flaunt even titular foreign and local certifications transcends the Private Security Industry in Nigeria but is entrenched in the psyche of the nation. Savvy mushroom organizations, institutions are taking advantage of this frenzy. Please, I repeat, please don't get it twisted; certifications, academic qualifications and membership of professional bodies are highly recommended. But let also bear in mind that the foregoing are not the only ways of measuring competence and aptitude. There are folks that for one reason or the other lack the prerequisites for such qualifications and certifications but are on top of their game. Let’s have a mechanism, a system that rewards hard work and selfless service to humanity. For instance, what meaningful contribution has the person made to the profession or in the service of humanity? In the UK, teachers, cleaners are awarded the coveted MBE (Member of the British Empire, plausibly an equivalent of Nigeria's MON) in recognition of their contributions in the service of society.

Americans are adept at creating wealth through ‘intellectual Products’ and the service industry. While the Chinese, Japanese etc engineers are busy churning out state-of-the-art gadgets/electronics, they still need an American ‘certification’ or validation to prove that they are on top of their game. Certifying Organizations must rise beyond pecuniary resource from prospective candidates or members.

A classic example suffices: the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) is undisputedly a coveted global brand. As intelligent and competent as they are, many Private Security Officers in Nigeria cannot comfortably cough out $450 to sit for ASIS's ‘Certified Protection Professional’ (CPP) examination or pay $170 for annual membership of ASIS. It is easier for an American Private Security Officer (PSO) earning say $3,000 a month to appropriate such an amount than for his Nigerian counterpart earning say N40, 000.00 ($250) a month to do the same.

In view of the high exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar, Nigerians and other poor African countries have a very strong case to make for the ASIS hierarchy to reduce or subsidize part of these fees for them. Otherwise a plethora of qualified and competent would-be members will be disfavored.

Global Case Studies: Requirements, Costs of Obtaining a Private Security License:

The United Kingdom:

In the United Kingdom, the process of registering and running a Private Security Company is seamless and very straightforward. The UK Security Industry Authority (SIA) grants two types of licenses: the Frontline and non-frontline. The license costs about £220 (about fifty thousand naira) for a three year license. There is no proviso that you must be a UK citizen before you can be a director of a Private Security Company in the UK. You are good to go so long you are legally resident and you don't have a criminal background. Sequel to undergoing stipulated training, acquiring either the front line or non-frontline license and registering/incorporating your company, you are entitled to run a Security company. Of course in many European countries and America, one can have a company incorporated within 48 hours and costs as low as £15 in the United Kingdom.

Ireland:

The Private Security Authority (PSA) in Ireland which was established pursuant to the Private Security Services Act 2004 is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland. The PSA issues two types of licenses:

(1) Contractor Licenses: required by companies, partnerships and sole traders providing security services in the Republic of Ireland and

(2) Individual Licenses (Employee Licenses): required by all those working in the security sector within the state whether employed by a licensed contractor or directly by a business as in house security personnel. Licenses are issued for a period of two years.

New entrants to the security industry (those without a turnover in licensable sectors) only pay the administration fee of €1,000 whereas an employee license is categorized into (a) Door Supervisor (licensed premises) license which costs €130 and (b) Security Guard (static) license which costs €80. A combined license (Applied for at the same time) costs €190.

South Africa:

The Private Security industry in South Africa is regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). Due to a robust and encouraging regulation, South Africa's Private Security industry boasts of about 9,320 registered companies and more than 400,000 Private Security Guards. In terms of ownership of Private Security Company in South Africa, a recent amendment stipulates that "51% ownership of a Security Company must vest in South African citizens". Also the process, cost of getting the required license and paper work is not as cumbersome and expensive as it is in Nigeria.

Why can’t Nigeria take a cue from the aforementioned best practices? Right now some countries are even privatizing policing and their prison service yet we are stuck in the past in Nigeria.

A Case For A "Private Security Industry Authority of Nigeria":

Drawing from the aforementioned countries and best practices, there is need for infusion of fresh ideas in the running of the Private Security Industry in Nigeria. In a country of 160 million or more people, an under-staffed Department of the NSCDC is certainly bogged down with law enforcement and crime fighting. Perhaps this explains why it is struggling to be innovative in monitoring PSC's and PSO's in the nook and cranny of Nigeria. In the light of this, I propose a full-fledged, self-funding and autonomous civil ombudsman to be known as the "Private Security Industry Authority of Nigeria" (PSIAN) peopled with seasoned security experts that will run such a body. Yes, the NSCDC can perhaps still play some oversight function but the day to day running of private security companies in Nigeria will rest with the proposed PSIAN. This arrangement will give the NSCDC enough time to concentrate in its forte- fighting crimes/law enforcement.

It is pertinent that Private Security Professionals in the nook and cranny of Nigeria are adequately trained, re-trained and licensed (badged) after undergoing prescribed training and passing the required assessment.

The same rules/conditions and standards that applies to the Private Security Professional in Illela (Sokoto State), must apply to the one in Mubi (Adamawa State), Etinan (Akwa Ibom), Ohaozara (Ebonyi) and Badagry (Lagos) etc. There will be a license for Frontline and non-frontline Operatives with different designations or specializations.

The Way Forward:

On March 16, 2012, over 55 international private security companies met in Geneva to sign an international code of conduct (ICoC) for private security service providers. Inter alia, the ICoC promotes self regulation of the security industry.

The Private Security Industry in Nigeria will do well to have a self-regulatory, self-funding ombudsman.

The government has nothing to fear or lose but everything to gain from this arrangement because the self regulating body will not necessarily rely on government funding. It's a win-win deal. This conforms to global best practices and will invariably enhance Standards, effective monitoring, Professionalism and instill discipline.

I can brainstorm a proposal in this regard that guarantees a steady stream of revenue and thousands of career opportunities been generated through such a body.

Conclusion:

Though the business climate here is not encouraging for start ups and the faint-hearted; notwithstanding the constraints, doing business in Nigeria can be very rewarding if you know what/who you need to know, do what you MUST do and also have the war chest to bulldoze your way.

The Private Security Industry in Nigeria must be encouraged to play an active role in the current haze of insecurity. Given the complex security challenges bedeviling country which calls for the active involvement of the citizenry and Private Security Officers in particular, the Nigerian establishment must as a matter of urgency, streamline the cost and byzantine bureaucracy associated with registration, licensing and running a Private Security Company in Nigeria otherwise many will be forced to operate under the radar.

© Don Okereke

(Security Analyst/Consultant)

http://www.donokereke.blogspot.com

Email: donnuait(a)yahoo.com

Twitter: @donokereke

Telephone: +234 708 000 8285