The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the establishment of data base for private security guards will enhance national security.
The minister stated this at the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Nigeria Private Guards Industry, on Tuesday in Abuja
He said that all over the world, the private security guards played a critical role in development as well as in national security architecture in their various countries.
He added that therefore, Nigeria as a country, should not be an exemption in the global trend and happenings, bearing in mind the security situation of the country.
“And looking at the industry as at today, we think their potential are under tapped, the effect of the industry in terms of our national security architecture, over the years, had been inactivated due to lack of standardisation.
“Basically, in terms of policy formulation and adherence to global best practices, in terms of coming up with a data base for productivity and efficiency.”
Tunji-Ojo explained that the development would no doubt, lead to creation of more jobs, better security for the country, both formal and informal sector as well as individuals.
The minister explained further that with the right data base, the issue of some private guards misconduct in their duty posts without being tracked down would be a thing of the past.
“It is difficult for me to leave my family with a guard that perhaps is a rapist, it is difficult to leave my home to somebody I don’t know is a burglar. So, with a reliable data base, it will take off these fears in Nigerians.”
He explained that the meeting would enable the stakeholders to come up with a data base that would make guards friends to the people and make them people of integrity.
It will also enable us to be sure that once somebody comes in as a guard, we are sure their bio-data is intact, and in case if there is any issue
It will enable us track the person and ensure justice is done,“ he added.
