NILDS DG Proffers Solutions to Evolving Security Threats

By Chinedu Echianu

The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman has stressed the need to amend Act of 1986 primary law regulating Private Security Companies in Nigeria.

Prof. Sulaiman stressed the imperative for the amendment of the law on Tuesday in his opening remarks at A 1- day capacity building workshop for chairmen and clerks of security-related committees of the National Assembly, on Private Security Governance and Legislative Oversight in Nigeria held at NILDS permanent site Abuja.

He said the law was crafted without envisaging today’s evolving threats such as insurgency and banditry as well as the exponential growth of the registered private security companies put at over one thousand five hundred, as well as the dynamics in the security landscape.

The Director General pointed out that the workshop is a platform to examine international experiences, best practices and key legislative interventions to enhance effectiveness and professionalism in the sector.

While reaffirming NILDS commitment to supporting the National Assembly in its mandate of strengthening security governance in the country, Prof. Sulaiman thanked the esteemed partners for the workshop including Africa Law Foundation (AFRILAW) and the team from DCAF- Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Switzerland.

The workshop featured paper presentations and goodwill messages by the representatives of the Chairmen of Senate and House of Reps Committees on Army, Police and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as the representatives of the NILDS partners.