Arming private citizens not an option now, ALPSAN warns amid security crisis

Arming private citizens not an option now, ALPSAN warns amid security crisis

The Interim Chairman of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSAN), Major-General Elias Njoku (retd.), says Nigeria is not ripe for private citizens to bear arms, despite rising insecurity, rampant kidnappings and persistent attacks by bandits and terrorists across the country.

Speaking in Abuja, Njoku warned that the uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons—a fallout of the country’s worsening insecurity—remains a major obstacle to any move allowing individuals to carry firearms for personal protection.

According to him, those advocating for liberal firearm licensing are reacting emotionally to recent security incidents without considering the long-term consequences.

“People calling for private citizens to bear arms are speaking based on the spur of the moment,” he said. “They do not know the implications. We have not reached that stage yet. Even as licensed private security practitioners, we are not permitted to carry arms because specific processes and conditions must first be in place.”

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Njoku compared Nigeria’s situation with countries like South Africa, Dubai, Gambia and Kenya, where private security operatives are licensed to carry arms, noting that their security environments are far more straightforward and less asymmetric.

He stressed that Nigeria must first strengthen collaboration with the NSCDC, enhance training standards, and address major structural gaps before considering any future policy shift.

“Because of our unique security challenges, every step must be taken jointly with the NSCDC and the Ministry of Interior,” he said. “A joint committee is already working in this direction, and after their recommendations, a pilot scheme may emerge.”

For now, Njoku insisted, no private security guard is allowed to carry arms. However, he assured Nigerians that significant reforms are underway and that “a new wave in the private security architecture of Nigeria” will soon become evident.

Arming private citizens not an option now, ALPSAN warns amid security crisis