Major-General Elias Njoku (retd), Interim Chairman of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSAN), has stated that Nigeria is not yet ready to allow private citizens to bear arms for self-protection, despite the country’s rising insecurity.

Njoku emphasized that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons has worsened security challenges and that allowing civilians to carry arms could have dangerous long-term consequences. He noted that even licensed private security practitioners in Nigeria currently cannot carry firearms due to stringent regulatory requirements.

“Countries like South Africa, Dubai, Gambia, and Kenya can allow licensed security personnel to bear arms because their security threats are different. We face asymmetric challenges, so we must first strengthen integration with the NSCDC and enhance training standards,” Njoku said.

He added that a joint committee with the Ministry of Interior is studying systems abroad, and while a pilot program for armed private security may emerge in the future, it is not feasible at this time.