BOOSTING NIGERIA’S SECURITY : ADOPTING THE SOUTH AFRICA PRIVATE SECURITY MODEL
By Musa ILALLAH
They are not soldiers… they are not officers of the police force… they are South African private security officers.
There are 2.4 Million of these private security officers in South Africa – employed by over 10,000 private security companies licensed by the Government’s regulatory body: PSIRA – Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.
These officers are armed to the teeth, they compete with technology, they monitor streets and neighbourhoods via CCTV, they provide armed response when they detect strange movements and they work closely with the Police in fighting crime.
South Africa has more armed private security officers than any country in the world – hence kidnapping, banditry and terrorism can never survive one week in South Africa.
This model of the private security architecture by South Africa is worth adopting by the Nigerian government to support the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other internal security agencies with a view to comprehensively deal with current and future security issues bedevilling the country.
It is estimated that adopting the democratisation of the South Africa security model in Nigeria will create employment for more than 5 million Nigerians.
There is no doubt in the fact that democratising our security architecture will surely open the horizon for private security companies to prosper and make unprecedented boost to this sector.
Without prejudice to the clamour for states police, this approach will surely add more value to dealing with our current and future security challenges in a more efficient and effective way driven by technology and professionalism.
It’s high time the monopoly of government in our security issues are broken. Government can still be incharge of private security enterprises’ registration, training, effective regulation, management and oversight over private security agencies through the Nigeria police force, NPF or any other arrangement like a private security agencies authority.
As is the case in South Africa, where only private security companies invest in neighbourhood AI powered surveillance systems, Nigerian government on registering private security agencies can also do the same.
Though politicised by the Abba Kabiru Yusuf, governor of Kano state, the inititiative to float a ‘Fisabilillah Hisbah board’ by immediate former Governor of the state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s plan would have served as a take off point for the South African model in Nigeria.
However, the Ganduje model has been withdrawn due to widespread public concern and intervention by stakeholders, including the Kano State Government and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The “Independent Hisbah Fisabilillah” was launched by the Ganduje Foundation in early December 2025 as a voluntary, non-governmental organization aimed at engaging 12,000 personnel previously disengaged from the state-run Hisbah Board.
The group stated that it’s purpose was purely for religious and humanitarian services and not intended to compete with the official government Hisbah Board.
The statement explained that Ganduje’s decision to step back came after widespread public reactions and concerns over the proposed establishment of an independent Hisbah outfit, describing it as “a proposal made in good faith and without political motives,” aimed at preserving peace and stability in the state.
In his contribution to the adption of the South Africa security model, Dr. Yahuza Getso, a renowned multidisciplinary expert, security analyst, and criminal behaviour therapist, widely respected for his “can-do” attitude, confidence, and results-driven approach accepted the adoption of the model in Nigeria since the security situation is far beyond the capacity and capability of the NPF.
A highly versatile intellectual with professional experience spanning public policy, security and intelligence,
Dr. Getso described the South African private security model as a unique and complex system that has evolved over the years to address the country’s specific security challenges.
In the words of Dr Getso, Private security companies can provide specialized security services that complement public law enforcement efforts. He described the South African private security model as ‘complex and multifaceted, with both benefits and drawbacks’.
I strongly advocate the adoption of the South Africa private security model in Nigeria because of the expected derivable benefits to the country.
Musa Ilallah, a Public Affairs Analyst can be reached at musahk123@yahoo.com
