‘Why I ventured into private security guard services’

• …Allow private security to have firearms

The Chief Executive Officer of Dexon Security, Caleb Ayodele, has said that he ventured into private security services to contribute to efforts at combating thuggery among the youth in the country.

According to him, his experience with the menace caused by restive students during his time at Babcock University played a role in setting up the firm.

Since its inception four years ago, the firm has gone ahead to start a security advocacy for youths and women across Nigeria, despite the initial challenges faced, such as convincing clients to hire them.

“During my school days at Babcock University, we had a lot of drug addicts then who had a triangle lifestyle, i.e., the gym, the cafeteria and the hostel. Our school always had a lot of events then and the artistes always kept complaining about how students kept mobbing them every time.

“I decided to get these guys to use their big bodies, and they acted as student security while also securing the artistes,” he noted.

The 25-year-old Caleb said a retired deputy inspector of police is part of the company, which has the vision to make private security jobs the new white-collar job in Nigeria.

“From the onset, we ensured that all our security personnel were either graduates or had a degree in something. The essence is to ensure that they have basic knowledge and understanding in dealing with clients. This is why we do not engage in some aspects of security, like gate guarding, for which SSCE holders are hired.

“Our company is making security the new white-collar job in Nigeria. We carefully select our personnel, and the most important criterion is that they must be graduates,” he said.

He further called on the government at all levels to hire the services of private security firms to assist in providing security for Nigerians.

“I’ll advise the government to involve the private sector to take care of some basic security within the country, and this involves allowing private security to have licences for ammunition (firearms).

“Secondly, I will recommend to the government that it decentralise the police force. It should be administered at the state level. That means all states handle their security; that way, it reduces the pressure on the federal level, and we can cascade effort to each state adequately, “he said.