By Hassan Hussain
Stakeholders in the security sector have called for increased private-sector participation in policing through the deployment of technology, data-driven solutions and innovation to strengthen security across the country.
The call was made in Abuja at a media briefing organised by the National Private Security Conference, NPSC, to discuss measures aimed at enhancing policing and crime prevention.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the NPSC, Mr Charles Awuzie, said security agencies often depend on information generated by private organisations in combating crime.
Mr Awuzie noted that the private sector has a critical role to play through investments in infrastructure, technology and innovative solutions, stressing that the responsibility for security should not rest solely on government.
He explained that private firms could support security initiatives through funding and the development of technologies that improve intelligence gathering, surveillance and crime detection.
Mr Awuzie also expressed the organisation’s readiness to engage government and other stakeholders on strategies to deepen collaboration between public and private actors in strengthening security nationwide.
Also speaking, a security expert, Mr Lawrence Pepple, said private-sector involvement in policing was not new, recalling previous collaborations between government and private entities in security operations within the Niger Delta region.
He, however, emphasised the need for a robust regulatory framework to guide private-sector participation in security-related activities.
Mr Pepple observed that many private organisations possess the resources and capacity to support government efforts in policing and crime prevention but remain hesitant due to inadequate legal protections.
He called for clear policies defining the roles, responsibilities and limits of private-sector involvement, saying such measures would encourage greater participation and enhance effectiveness.
