The Federal Government has called on private security operators to embrace intelligence-led operations, advanced technology and stronger public-private partnerships to improve national security and respond more effectively to Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, made the call on Tuesday at the maiden Nigeria Private Security Development Summit 2026 held in Abuja. He was represented by his Special Adviser, retired Rear Adm. Ariku Abdulkadir.
Speaking at the summit themed “Reimagining Private Security in Nigeria: From Manpower to Intelligence-Driven Protection,” Matawalle said the country’s security environment had become increasingly complex, with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, piracy, transnational organised crime and misinformation requiring more sophisticated responses.
He said Nigeria must move beyond conventional manpower-based security models to intelligence-driven operations supported by technology, digital surveillance and effective collaboration between public and private security institutions.
According to the minister, national security now extends beyond protecting the country’s borders, noting that peace, investment and sustainable development depend on a secure environment.
Matawalle highlighted several reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the National Security Strategy 2024, the National Defence Policy, the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023.
He added that the Federal Government was investing in cyber defence, artificial intelligence, digital intelligence, surveillance systems, data analytics and integrated command-and-control platforms to shift security operations from reactive responses to predictive and preventive strategies.
While encouraging greater use of technology, Matawalle stressed that security operations must remain professional and comply with legal, ethical and human rights standards.
He described the private security industry as an indispensable part of Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that no country can rely solely on government security agencies to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
The minister urged private security companies to strengthen intelligence gathering, risk management and critical infrastructure protection in partnership with government agencies. He also encouraged operators to improve training, professional certification and continuous capacity development across the industry.
President of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Dr. Chris Adikwu, represented by Dr. Felix Obaze, called for the integration of licensed private security firms into Nigeria’s national security framework through structured intelligence sharing.
He said more than 1,700 licensed private security companies employing over four million personnel represent a strategic national asset capable of enhancing intelligence gathering and protecting critical infrastructure.
Adikwu also advocated reforms to the Private Guard Companies Act, the establishment of a National Private Security Intelligence Network, wider adoption of advanced technologies and joint training programmes with public security agencies.
Earlier, the Summit Producer, Agwu Amogu, said Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest private security workforces, but its potential remains largely under utilized.
He noted that the summit aimed to encourage the industry to move beyond providing guards to becoming a strategic partner in intelligence gathering, technology deployment and critical infrastructure protection. He added that the meeting would produce practical recommendations culminating in the Abuja Declaration to guide future policy reforms.
Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of ALPSPN, Chief Lucky Ojealaro, urged operators to embrace innovation, strategic partnerships and continuous professional development to keep pace with emerging threats.
He said the summit would expose participants to best practices in security governance, enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and intelligence-led security operations.
Stakeholders at the summit agreed that stronger collaboration between government and the private security sector, alongside greater investment in intelligence and technology, is critical to addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges and building a more resilient national security architecture.
