Major-General Elias Njoku (retd), who currently serves as the Interim Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSAN), has cautioned against calls for private citizens to be granted the right to bear arms. He argued that despite the worsening insecurity across the country—marked by banditry, terrorism, kidnappings, and frequent attacks on civilians—Nigeria is still far from ready to allow individuals to carry weapons for self-defence.

Njoku stressed that the nation is still grappling with the dangers posed by the unchecked circulation of small arms and light weapons, many of which contribute to the violent crimes ravaging different regions. While addressing journalists in Abuja alongside members of his interim management team, he noted that most advocates for widespread firearm licensing are speaking out of frustration and fear, without considering the long-term consequences for national security.

He further explained that even licensed private security personnel in Nigeria are restricted from carrying arms, emphasizing that the necessary framework, processes, and security conditions required for armed private guards are not yet in place. Njoku compared Nigeria’s situation to countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Gambia, and Dubai, where private guards can carry firearms. He pointed out that unlike Nigeria, those countries face more defined and less complex threats, making it easier to identify enemies and confront them decisively.

According to him, Nigeria must first deepen cooperation with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), improve training standards, and follow a gradual, well-structured process before any policy shift can be considered. He revealed that ALPSAN has already embarked on study tours to Kenya, Gambia, and South Africa to understand their operational systems.

Njoku added that a joint committee involving the Ministry of Interior, NSCDC, and other relevant bodies is currently reviewing possible reforms. Their recommendations may eventually lead to a pilot programme, but for now, he insists that no private guard is legally permitted to bear arms. However, he assured that significant improvements in the private security sector are forthcoming, signaling the beginning of a more robust security framework in Nigeria.