Nigerian Gov’t to Require Biometric Registration of Security Guards

“The position echoes that of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. AbdulRahman Danbazau, who recently revealed that the federal government was planning to use biometric data to register and monitor foreign visitors to Nigeria.”

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is preparing to register the biometrics of all private security guards in the country.

The news arrived in a recent speech from NSCDC Commandant General Abdullahi Gana delivered to private security industry representatives. In the speech, Gana explained that the NSCDC was sponsoring legislation that would require private sector security guards to be officially registered with individual companies, as a means of ensuring that criminals and terrorists do not gain positions of trust that could be exploited.

Gana’s speech placed a strong focus on foreigners, suggesting that they pose the greatest security threats. The position echoes that of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. AbdulRahman Danbazau, who recently revealed that the federal government was planning to use biometric data to register and monitor foreign visitors to Nigeria.

In his comments concerning security guards, Abdullahi Gana asserted that “no foreigner should operate a private guard company,” and that “only retired military, police or army officers should run such organizations.”

Gana added that such biometric registration would eventually be required for housekeepers and guards, as well.

Various officials including a former president have decried duplicate biometric data collection efforts among Nigerian government agencies. It is not yet clear which agency or agencies will handle the proposed registration of security guards or foreign visitors.

Source: The Guardian

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July 16, 2018 – by Alex Perala