Private Guard Operatives operating in Nigeria must now wear personal identification on their uniforms, the federal government has directed.

The directive is sequel to the recent arrest of some fake Private Guard Operatives during the Covid-19 lockdown at beats and locations within the country which the federal government considers a serious security threat.

The Commandant General Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu gave the directive to all State Commandants of the Corps urging them to eitherensure and enforce strict compliance or face the consequence.

The CG in a statement by his media assistant, Ekunola Gbenga saidthe recent directive that all Private Guards in the country should sew their Private Security Identification (PSID) number on their uniforms, insisted that any private security company that errs in this regard would forfeit its license.

He emphasised that the said number must tally with the service numbers generated during the Biometrics Data Capturing of guards.

The statement further revealed that the Corps is collaborating with sister agencies like the DSS, the NPF, NIA, and the Corps supervisory ministry (Ministry of Interior) who the NSCDC had already shared this data with to arrest all erring operatives.

The Civil Defence boss who reiterated that the NSCDC will not rest on its oars whileensuring it rids the security sector of all illegal companies and guards said, “achieving internal security is our priority, especially in this period of lockdown”

He however explained that the introduction of name tags had become necessary to ensure the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians and protect the integrity of the duly registered Private Guards Companies.

With the vital information on the uniform which includes Private Security Identification (PSID), any operative involved in crime can easily be identified and apprehended. (Leadership)