By James Sunday (Rtd), FCAI, MNIIA
Many security experts believe that government alone cannot adequately address the country’s growing security challenges, particularly persistent cases of kidnapping and school abductions, which have continued since the Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping, and similar incidents in Dapchi in Yobe, Kebbi, Niger, and other states.
This concern has resurfaced following the recent disturbing kidnappings of school pupils and the urgent need to upgrade school security. Many schools still employ untrained civilian guards instead of retired, professionally trained personnel whose experience, exposure, and tactical understanding offer significant advantages. Retirees also have established relationships with the police and other security agencies, which aid intelligence sharing, patrol coordination, surveillance efforts, and overall security preparedness.
The time has come for the government to formally integrate retired military and paramilitary personnel into approved private guard roles. This requires the government to waive burdensome fees, unrealistic documentation requirements, and tax conditions that make applications cumbersome and discourage genuine attempts by retirees to contribute to national security. Their experience could help address the various dimensions of insecurity, just as is practiced in more advanced climes.
Therefore, this is a clarion call to the Federal Government to liberalize the private guard licensing process for retired military and paramilitary personnel. Such personnel should receive automatic approval after due security clearance by the Department of State Services and administrative processing by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, without undue delay from the Ministry of Interior. Streamlining this process will strengthen national safety, enhance peace and security, restore public confidence in government’s ability to protect its citizens, and reduce the unnecessary closure of schools, which creates academic gaps and heightens fear among students and parents.