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Nigerian-based non-governmental organization, AfriLaw, in conjunction with Geneva-based DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance and the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA), on Friday continued its two-day engagement with stakeholders in the private security sector in Port Harcourt.
A day earlier, Thursday October 21, 2021, the NGO had organized a workshop on ‘Development of Private Security Companies Procurement Policy’ in the Rivers State capital, with participants drawn largely from corporate users of private security services in the extractive, real estate and hospitality industries.
Tagged: ‘Training Workshop on Review and Development of Internal Documents of Private Security Companies,’ Friday’s workshop beamed its focus on strengthening effective service delivery and adherence to international best practices by private security companies (PSCs), with over forty of such companies operating in the state participating in the training.
In a welcome address via Zoom, DCAF’s Gabrielle Priklopilova said her organization has been in partnership with AfriLaw to “put on the discussion on private security legal reform in Nigeria,” and had in this regard strengthened civil societies working groups as well as facilitated multi-stakeholder exchanges on issues pertaining to private security governance in the country.
“We have identified that improvement in private security governance requires a cultural change and a long time vision. Here we have to commend the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for their leadership which could make this change a reality.
“We strongly believe that private security companies, if given the tools, can actually strengthen the promotion of human rights and contribute to the provision of security and prosperity in the country.
“We see that in many contexts private security industry can be a force multiplier for the provision of security. This is if only private security is appropriately (regulated) and supported.
“We want to help you (PSCs) and support you to develop strong policies, to ensure that your companies follow international best practices and fully contribute to Nigeria’s security and prosperity. Basically, the aim of this workshop is to help Nigerian companies to improve and strengthen their operations, management and governance, especially in a complex environment, such as the Niger Delta,” she said.
AfriLaw’s executive director, Barr Chinwike Okereke, in an overview of the AFRILAW/NSCDC/DCAF Project in Nigeria, said his organisation and DCAF had been implementing the ‘Strengthening Private Security Regulation and Oversight in Nigeria Project,’ adding that the workshop was borne out of initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of PSCs in their operations and management.
Okereke, who was impressed with the turn-out, described sector operators in the state as “very receptive and eager to seize the opportunity to improve,” adding “I see a sector in Rivers State and the Niger Delta, that within the shortest possible time, if they will go back and begin to take some steps from all they learnt here, will reposition itself for the best, which is the purpose of this workshop.”
National vice president of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Rev. Canon Mark Abere, who lamented what he described as neglect of the sector by those in authority, described the workshop, as ‘a game changer.’
He said that “as an association, we feel so indebted to the activities or services rendered by AfriLaw, and supported by DCAF and ICoCA.
“The first AfriLaw workshop held in Port Harcourt (last year) had turned out to be a very big eye-opener for us the private security practitioners in Nigeria, and to government officials too. Ever since then they have been moving the industry in such a way that whatever we could have been, part of it, would be said to be the contribution of AfriLaw to private security industry in Nigeria.
“Today’s workshop is a further eye-opener for the private security providers. It’s been very educative, most especially in the area of human right abuse in our security service delivery. I believe those of us (private security practitioners) here have come to appreciate the gap in our practice that had now been made clearer to us and the way we should be going about our business and practice,” he said
Chairman of the state chapter of ALPSPN, Chief Kennedy Davies, further commended AfriLaw “for seeing the shortfall within the scope we operate and deciding on their own to work out a framework wherein all of us can benefit. It appears God Himself is trying to make us relevant in the scheme of things in this country. This is a laudable project, and we are very happy over it. As chairman of this chapter (of ALP), we have started moves to see how we can key into the opportunities and benefits offered by ICoCA and DCAF.”
Also joining the workshop via Zoom, ICoCA’s head, Communication and Outreach, Mr. Christopher Galvin, presented a paper on ‘International Good Practices on Effective Management and Governance of PSCs,’ while explaining issues and guides necessary for effective management of PSCs, especially with regards to international best practices.
In a paper titled ‘Conducting Risk and Human Rights Impact Assessments by PSCs,’ Mr. Giuseppe Scirocco, monitoring officer at ICoCA, however, dwelt on the globally accepted guidelines for conducting human rights impact assessment.
Other papers presented at the workshop include: ‘PSCs and Challenges of Operating in Complex Environment’ by Dr David Vareba of the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD); ‘Functional Planning Support and Delivery of Security Operations Management System by PSCs’ by Mr. Jonah Eromon, Africa director, MSS Global Limited and ‘Developing and Operating Company Grievance Mechanisms (CGM) by PSCs’ by AfriLaw’s Chinwike Okereke.
