The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), will serve as chairman of the inaugural National Private Security Conference (NPSC) set for June 13, 2026 in Abuja, organisers confirmed.
The event, billed on the conference website as “Nigeria National Private Security Conference 2026: Building a Modern Security Ecosystem”, aims to bring together private security operators, military and police leaders, lawmakers, diplomats and industry stakeholders to discuss the role of private security in Nigeria’s evolving security architecture. Organisers say the conference will combine policy panels, an industry exhibition and sessions designed to foster public-private cooperation.
Gen. Musa’s choice as chairman underscores the organisers’ intention to marry operational military experience with private-sector expertise. Musa, who served as Chief of Defence Staff between 2023 and 2025 and retired after a 39-year career, has consistently emphasised collective responsibility for national security and the need for stronger institutional collaboration. His recent public remarks stressed that national security is a shared duty that goes beyond uniformed services — a theme likely to shape the conference’s deliberations.
“Bringing a former service chief to chair this forum signals seriousness about integrating private security into national security planning,” said an industry source involved in preparations. The organisers expect the gathering to attract service chiefs, senior security officials, private security CEOs and lawmakers, positioning the conference as a first-of-its-kind national platform for the sector.
Proponents argue that better regulation, professional standards and structured collaboration between state security agencies and licensed private firms could relieve pressure on public security services and improve protection for critical infrastructure, businesses and communities. Critics, however, caution that any expansion of private security must be accompanied by robust oversight to prevent abuse and ensure respect for human rights.
Conference organisers say the NPSC will address these points through sessions on regulation, standards, training and a proposed national private security network. With Gen. Musa in the chair, the event is expected to emphasise policy frameworks that enable closer cooperation between government agencies and vetted private operators.
