FCT : NSCDC Seals 3 PGCs

By Nkiru Njemanze

The FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has sealed three Private Guard Companies, PGCs, for operating illegally in the Federal Capital territory .

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu made this known during a monitoring and enforcement exercise in Abuja.

The three PGCs sealed are Ochacho Security Nigeria Ltd at Idu Industrial layout, Justigo Security and Allied Services in Gwarimpa and Macro Security Consult and Service at Wuse 2, Abuja.

Odumosu said that Ochacho was sealed for failure to register as a PGC, employment of guards without approval and threat to national security and public interest.

“We have invited them and they refused to comply, so we are left with no choice but to seal so that they will stop operating illegally and be compelled to register appropriately,” he said

The Commandant said that Justigo security company was sealed for non renewal of operation license, and the usage of two different uniforms in the company, which he tagged illegal and a violation of set guidelines for the use of uniforms and accoutrements for private guard companies.

He further said that Maco security company was sealed because the company had not registered and had been operating illegally for years.

He decried the inappropriate one room office the PGC is operating from, which also doubled as a quantity surveyor’s firm and did not meet the required standard of operations.

According to him, it was illegal for the company to resume operations without appropriate registration.

He said the Corps was saddled with the responsibility to license and regulate the operations of PGCs, hence the sealing of the three companies over compliance violation.

The Command boss said that PGCs formed a major part of Nigeria’s internal security system which necessitated the need for monitoring and enforcement.

“This is a matter of serious security concern which can not be compromised, we can’t allow quacks or miscreants to handle our security, so this effort would be sustained.

“Under the leadership of the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, we will not condone such illegalities and threat to national security,” the Commandant said.

The Helmsman however said that once all sealed PGCs fulfill the necessary operational requirements, their companies will be unsealed and given operational approval.

Edited By Grace Namiji