The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command, Commandant Dr. Peter Maigari has revealed that the NSCDC gives licenses to private guard companies and also undertakes the training and retraining of their personnel.

Licensing of Private Security Guards used to be handled by Ministry of Interior before it was given to the NSCDC to handle.

This change was contained in the NSCDC amendment act of 2007. This embowers the corps to

regulate, supervise and monitor the activities of private security guard companies in Nigeria.

He made the revelation in Abuja when he hosted some members of Lawyers without Borders. He states that the NSCDC will maintain one of the corps mandates which is upholding of “Zero tolerance to torture and maltreatment” of suspects who are in custody.

He promises members of the group that his organization will work with Lawyers without Borders in order to achieve their main objective which is “No Torture and Maltreatment of Suspects under custody”

The commandant also points out that the NSCDC maintains twenty-four-hour surveillance of all government infrastructure and sites.

During the visit the spokesperson of the group that visited NSCDC, Angela Nwosu says that Lawyers without Borders want to partner with NSCDC to be able to ensure that law and order is maintained when it comes to treatment of suspects under custody.

She posits that it is unlawful to maltreat and torture suspects under custody.