Security and Peace of Mind: Should You Employ a Gateman for Your House in Nigeria?

​The decision to employ a gateman, often referred to as a security guard or a ‘Maiguard,’ is a common consideration for homeowners across Nigeria. The primary motivation is simple: enhanced security and the peace of mind that comes with having a dedicated watchman. However, the choice is not as straightforward as simply hiring the first person who applies. It involves weighing the significant security benefits against a range of practical, financial, and safety drawbacks.

​The Clear Merits of Employing a Gateman

​The advantages of having a dedicated security presence at your residential gate are compelling and often necessary in the current Nigerian context:

• ​Deterrence: A uniformed or visible guard at the gate serves as a powerful deterrent to potential burglars, vandals, and trespassers. The mere presence suggests the property is protected and not an easy target.
• ​Access Control: The gateman manages who enters and leaves your premises. They verify visitors, delivery personnel, and contractors, ensuring that unauthorized individuals do not gain access to your compound, especially when you are not home.
• ​Immediate Response: In case of suspicious activity, fire, or an attempted break-in, the guard is the first point of contact and can raise an alarm or take immediate, albeit limited, defensive action.
• ​Convenience: They handle routine tasks like opening and closing the gate, receiving packages, directing visitors, and often keeping the immediate surroundings of the gate clean. This significantly enhances the convenience of your daily life.
• ​Neighborhood Watch: A dedicated guard often forms connections with other security personnel in the area, creating an informal neighborhood watch network that shares information about potential threats.

​Critically Examining the Demerits and Risks

​While the benefits are clear, it is crucial to critically examine the potential risks and disadvantages associated with employing an individual as a residential gateman. These factors often go unconsidered until an issue arises.

​1. Security and Trust Deficits

• ​Insider Threat: This is arguably the biggest risk. An improperly vetted or disgruntled gateman can become an insider threat. They possess intimate knowledge of your property layout, your family’s schedule, key movements, and where valuables are kept, making them an asset to criminal elements if they choose to betray your trust.
• ​Criminal Collaboration: There are documented cases where gatemen have actively collaborated with robbers, providing them with access codes, details on security measures, and the opportune moment to strike.
• ​Lack of Professional Training: Many residential gatemen are not professionally trained in modern security techniques, emergency response, first aid, or conflict resolution. Their primary tool is often a rudimentary weapon (like a stick or a machete) and their vigilance, which may not be enough against organized attackers.

​2. Financial and Logistical Burdens

• ​Cost of Employment: Beyond the monthly salary, the homeowner is responsible for providing accommodation (a security post or room), utilities, and potentially other benefits. This is a recurring, significant operational cost.
• ​Staff Management: Employing a gateman means becoming an employer. This includes dealing with recruitment, background checks, managing shifts, handling requests for leave, and the overall logistics of personnel management, which can be time-consuming.
• ​Liability Issues: If the gateman is involved in a conflict, an accident, or damages property while on duty, the homeowner may bear some degree of legal or financial liability, depending on the terms of employment.

​3. Personal and Privacy Concerns

• ​Erosion of Privacy: Having a guard stationed permanently at your gate means someone is constantly observing the coming and going of everyone in your household, potentially impacting personal privacy and freedom.
• ​Dependence: Over-reliance on a single individual for security can lead to complacency among the residents. If the guard is sick, absent, or compromised, the property becomes suddenly and severely vulnerable.
• ​Behavioral Issues: Homeowners may encounter issues with the gateman’s personal behavior, such as excessive noise, bringing unauthorized people onto the premises, or consuming prohibited substances while on duty, leading to conflicts.

​Conclusion and Best Practice

​The decision to employ a residential gateman in Nigeria should be approached with extreme caution and due diligence. While they offer undeniable benefits in terms of convenience and deterrence, the demerits—particularly the risk of the insider threat—are serious.

​The ideal solution is often a hybrid approach:

1. ​Prioritize Technology: Invest in modern security systems first (CCTV, electric fences, alarm systems).
2. ​Professional Service: If a human presence is required, consider hiring a verified, professional security company that handles vetting, training, supervision, and shift rotations, thereby mitigating the risk of long-term familiarity and collusion.
3. ​Thorough Vetting: If you must hire an individual, conduct the most stringent background and character checks possible, involving local authorities and guarantors.

​A gateman can be a valuable asset, but the homeowner must remain an active participant in their own security, never placing absolute trust in a single point of human defense.