Stakeholders Demand Overhaul of Nigeria’s Security Laws as Experts Warn of 30-Year Lag in Regulations
Security experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders gathered at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference (NPSC) and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja on Saturday have urged an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s private security regulatory framework, warning that existing laws are outdated and ill-equipped to address contemporary security challenges.
At the closing session of the conference, co-convener and security studies expert, Dr. Mohammed Sani Abubakar, said the event successfully created what he described as a “platform for synergy” among private security operators, consultancy firms, government officials, and non-state actors, aimed at improving coordination in national security management.
He noted that the engagement helped bridge long-standing communication gaps across key sectors, fostering what he called a more unified and strategic approach to tackling insecurity in the country.
Dr. Abubakar also weighed in on the ongoing national debate over state policing, stating that while he had previously harboured reservations, recent remarks by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu had prompted him to reconsider his stance.
“We should give it a try. If there are issues along the way, we can fine-tune it,” he said, advocating a cautious, trial-based approach to reforms rather than outright rejection of the proposal.
A central theme of the conference was the growing concern over Nigeria’s private security legislation, which participants widely described as obsolete and inadequate for today’s evolving threat landscape. Dr. Abubakar stressed the urgency of reviewing the legal framework governing private security operations, arguing that Nigeria is confronting 2026-era security challenges with laws designed decades ago.
He pointed to persistent bureaucratic hurdles in acquiring security technology, including drones, citing lengthy clearance procedures involving the Office of the National Security Adviser and stringent end-user certification requirements. According to him, these restrictions often slow legitimate operators, placing them at a disadvantage compared to criminal networks that continue to adapt rapidly.
“We are battling a 2026 crisis with a law made 30 years ago,” he warned, adding that private security firms should be empowered to operate beyond traditional roles such as guarding property and providing escort services.
He further called for reforms that would modernise the sector and align Nigeria’s private security operations with global standards, citing examples from countries such as South Africa and the United States, where private security plays a more technologically advanced and operationally flexible role.
