Private guarding, drones, armoured vehicles, protective equipment and defence products all touch on national security, so the government controls who can provide, import, own and make them. A business in this sector may need approvals from several bodies at once, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Each regulator carries out its own checks, usually including security vetting of the company, its directors and its shareholders, and a missing approval can lead to seized goods, sealed premises or criminal liability. We map out the approvals needed for the project, prepare the applications, deal with the regulators and keep the business compliant afterwards.
Approvals at a glance
| Activity | Main regulators | Key approvals |
|---|---|---|
| Private security guard services | NSCDC, Ministry of Interior | Private guard company licence and renewals |
| Importing and flying drones | ONSA, NCAA | End-user certificate, NCAA drone registration, RPAS Operator Certificate |
| Drone manufacturing and assembly | ONSA, NCAA, NCC, DICON for military drones | Security clearance, aviation and radio approvals, defence industry approval where relevant |
| Importing armoured vehicles and body armour | ONSA, Nigeria Customs Service | End-user certificate before shipment |
| Building or converting armoured vehicles | ONSA, DICON | Security clearance and defence industry approval |
| Defence and security equipment production | DICON, ONSA | Approval under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act 2023 |
| Security radios, trackers and surveillance equipment | NCC | Type approval and, where needed, frequency licences |
Who we act for
- Private security companies providing guarding, patrols, event security, alarm response and security consultancy
- Drone operators and users in survey, mapping, agriculture, construction, oil and gas, media and delivery
- Importers and distributors of drones, armoured vehicles, body armour and security equipment
- Manufacturers of drones, armoured vehicles and other security and defence equipment, including foreign manufacturers setting up in Nigeria
- Companies that hire security services, such as oil and gas, mining, banks and multinationals, which need to check their providers are properly licensed
- Foreign security and defence companies entering Nigeria through partnerships, joint ventures or local subsidiaries
Private security guard company registration
A company cannot provide private guard services in Nigeria without a licence under the Private Guard Companies Act. The NSCDC is responsible for registering, licensing and supervising private guard companies, with the licence granted under the authority of the Minister of Interior. We guide applicants through the full process:
- Company formation: incorporating a company with the Corporate Affairs Commission with objects that cover private guarding; see business registration
- Ownership check: the law restricts private guard company licences to Nigerian-owned companies, so we confirm the shareholding structure qualifies
- Application to the NSCDC: preparing the application with the company's documents, details and records of its directors and shareholders, office address and operational plan
- Vetting and inspection: security screening of the promoters and an inspection of the company's office and facilities
- Grant of licence: issue of the private guard company licence, followed by registration of the company's uniform and identification
- Renewal and compliance: periodic renewal of the licence, training of guards, record keeping and returns to the NSCDC
Private guard companies may not arm their guards. Where armed protection is needed, it is provided through the Nigeria Police Force, including supernumerary police arrangements, and we advise clients on the legal route. Foreign security firms usually participate through technical services, training or consultancy agreements with a licensed Nigerian company, and we structure these arrangements so that they comply with the ownership rules.
Drone registration and regulation
Drones are regulated under the Civil Aviation Act 2022 and Part 21 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, which deals with remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). The NCAA regulates safety, registration and certification, ONSA controls security clearance and end-user certificates, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency manages the airspace.
- ONSA end-user certificate: ONSA treats drones as controlled items. An end-user certificate is needed to import a drone and to register it with the NCAA, and commercial operators need ONSA security clearance before the NCAA will certify them.
- NCAA drone registration: drones are registered through the NCAA's drone portal, with proof of ownership and the end-user certificate.
- RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC): a business that flies drones for payment needs an ROC from the NCAA. We guide applicants through the NCAA's certification process, prepare the operations manual and safety documents, and coordinate the demonstration and inspection.
- Imports and seizures: drones brought into Nigeria without an end-user certificate are regularly seized by the Nigeria Customs Service. We advise on the approvals needed before goods are shipped and act where drones have been detained.
For a full explanation of the rules, see our guide to drone regulations in Nigeria.
Drone manufacturing and assembly
We advise local and foreign investors on how to set up a drone manufacturing company in Nigeria: company registration and foreign investment approvals, ONSA and NCAA requirements, radio equipment approvals from the NCC, product standards and technology transfer agreements. Drones built for military or security use fall within the defence industry framework overseen by DICON.
Armoured vehicles and protective equipment
Armoured vehicles, bulletproof vests, helmets and similar protective equipment are controlled items in Nigeria. An end-user certificate from ONSA is generally required before they are imported, and goods that arrive without one are liable to seizure. We obtain end-user certificates for importers, dealers and the businesses that use armoured vehicles, such as banks, oil and gas companies, diplomatic missions and executive transport providers, and we act where goods have been detained at the ports.
Companies that build or convert armoured vehicles in Nigeria, or manufacture body armour, need security clearance and, depending on the products and customers, approval within the defence industry framework. We advise on the approvals, factory requirements and contracts with government and private buyers.
Defence and security equipment manufacturing
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act 2023 opened the defence industry to greater private participation, with DICON overseeing the production of military and security equipment. Local and foreign manufacturers can take part through approvals from DICON, partnerships and joint ventures with DICON, or supply arrangements with the armed forces and security agencies.
We advise on:
- the approvals and security clearances needed to manufacture defence and security equipment
- joint ventures and technology partnerships with DICON and Nigerian companies
- structuring foreign investment, including NIPC registration and incentives and expatriate quota for technical staff
- supply contracts with the armed forces, police and other agencies, and public procurement rules
- end-user certificates for the import of components and the export of finished products
Security equipment and communications
Two-way radios, GPS trackers, jammers, surveillance systems and other communications equipment need type approval from the NCC before they can be imported or sold, and some uses require a frequency licence; see telecommunications licensing. Certain equipment, such as signal jammers, is restricted to government use. CCTV, body cameras and drones that capture images of people must also comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023; see data protection compliance.
Security clearance and vetting
Almost every approval in this sector depends on security vetting of the company, its directors and its shareholders. Applications are often delayed by incomplete information, unexplained foreign ownership or inconsistencies between the company's documents and its records at the Corporate Affairs Commission. We prepare applications carefully so that they pass vetting first time and follow them up with the agencies involved.
How we help
- mapping the licences and approvals needed for your business or project
- forming and structuring the company, including foreign participation
- preparing and filing applications with the NSCDC, ONSA, NCAA, DICON, NCC and other agencies
- obtaining end-user certificates and clearing goods with the Nigeria Customs Service
- drafting security service, supply, manufacturing and technology agreements
- licence renewals, inspections and ongoing compliance
- responding to seizures, sealing of premises and enforcement action
Our regulatory compliance lawyers in Lagos and Abuja work with security businesses, drone operators and manufacturers across Nigeria. To discuss your project, contact us.
