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Security · Nigeria

License a private security company (NSCDC)

License a private guard company with the NSCDC (Ministry of Interior): incorporate → apply to the Commandant-General → insurance/NSITF/training → category licence.

4
steps
3
agencies involved
Who you will deal with
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)NSCDC
The steps
  1. 1Incorporate the company
    Agency
    Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
    What is required
    Register an LLC with minimum ₦10,000,000 authorised share capital and at least 3 directors — one being a retired military or senior police officer.
    Documents
    Certificate of Incorporation; ≥₦10m share capital; qualifying director
    Typical timeline
    See CAC procedure
  2. 2Apply to the NSCDC Commandant-General
    Agency
    Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
    What is required
    Submit a Private Guard Company application: MEMART (x2), Certificate of Incorporation (x2), application fee ₦500,000, PHS forms ₦100,000, police clearance for directors and personnel, and postcard photos with fingerprints taken before NSCDC officers.
    Documents
    Application; ₦500k fee; PHS; police clearances; photos
    Typical timeline
    Application stage
  3. 3Provide insurance, NSITF and trained guards
    Agency
    NSCDC
    What is required
    Provide insurance cover for personnel/operations, register with NSITF, and have guards trained and certified by the NSCDC.
    Documents
    Insurance; NSITF registration; NSCDC-certified guards
    Typical timeline
    Before licensing
  4. 4Obtain the category licence
    Agency
    NSCDC
    What is required
    The NSCDC grants a licence by category based on number of guards (e.g. Category A ₦3,000,000 for 3,000+ guards). Payment of the application fee is NOT authority to operate — operate only after the licence is issued.
    Documents
    Category licence fee
    Typical timeline
    On approval

Primary source: https://nscdc.gov.ng/pgc/ · confidence: high

The numbers behind the decision

Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.

ONYX publishes what the responsible agencies publish, with a link to each source. Requirements, fees and timelines change, and an officer's reading of a rule can differ from the published text. Verify against the linked source before you commit money — this is reference information, not legal advice.

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