Aniekan B. Willie is a seasoned security professional with over three decades of international and national experience, including senior roles in global oil and gas security before co-founding Mantra Protection Solutions Limited in 2015. Under his leadership, Mantra has emerged as a trusted provider of bespoke, compliance-driven security solutions across multiple sectors in Nigeria. The company is redefining private security by blending global standards with local expertise and expanding into technology-enabled surveillance, risk management, and integrated protection services. In this exclusive interview with Stephen Onyekwelu, he takes the reader on a journey into how Mantra is sustaining its drive to provide high quality security solutions. This interview comes at a significant time for Mantra, as the company celebrates its 10-year anniversary; an achievement made possible by Aniekan Willie’s strategic leadership over the past decade, which has guided the organisation to this important milestone. Excerpts:
How has your experience in multinational security management shaped Mantra’s ability to localise international best practices for Nigeria’s volatile operating environments?
Early in my career, I learned the crucial value of absorbing experience from every work scenario or opportunity. This principle paid off significantly when, in my early days at a multinational company, I was given the unexpected chance to attend a two-day security workshop as my department’s safety representative to make up the class numbers. That workshop turned out to be a career-defining moment.
It fundamentally shifted my aspirations, directly paving the way for my journey into security management. This initial exposure not only immersed me in world-class security practices but also introduced me to a valuable network of contacts, including the person who would later become my friend and the co-founder of Mantra.
This expertise, when combined with my deep local knowledge of the Nigerian business environment, provided me with a unique, insightful perspective on the security landscape. These two advantages – global standards and local insight – are the very unique strengths we brought to bear years later when Mantra was born.
Our focus is clear: to deliver security services that meet global standards while strategically leveraging our local expertise. This dual commitment is what sets us apart from the rest, and it remains the core of our service offering and delivery today.
Security is fundamentally about credibility. How does Mantra sustain client trust and operational discipline across high-risk zones like the Niger Delta and major cities?
Mantra was established to provide quality security services for all our clients. For us, every client, no matter the risk exposure and threat environment, requires a solution that addresses their unique vulnerabilities. To the extent that we are able to understand their particular needs and consistently offer tailor-made solutions that meet global standards yet accommodate local imperatives is what leads to client satisfaction. That is how reputation and credibilty are built, which in turn leads to brand loyalty.
Practically, how does this dual advantage differentiate Mantra from the dozens of licensed security firms in Nigeria that operate on a smaller or less structured scale?
What truly sets a company apart in a demanding, competitive environment is the uncompromised quality of its service delivery. From the very beginning, our strategic vision was to provide world-class, end-to-end security solutions, and for the past ten years, this focus has driven every decision. We intentionally grew from a small operation with our first and valued client to organically scale up our capabilities, now encompassing a full spectrum of advanced security and risk management services.
These solutions are customised for a diverse clientele, including individuals, government agencies, corporate clients and multilateral bodies. Our commitment, irrespective of the client profile, is consistently exceeding high-performance standards.
With cybercrime, terrorism, and political instability reshaping risk profiles, how is Mantra evolving its service architecture to meet the next generation of security challenges?
Security challenges, such as those faced today, provide a crucial opportunity for organisations to focus on necessary security requirements that are often neglected or not prioitised. At Mantra, our focus has always been to highlight the gaps and help clients proactively address these critical needs.
Regardless of your risk profile, we assess and deliver cost-effective solutions that precisely meet your requirements. Recognising the constantly evolving security landscape, we operate as a risk management organisation that is perpetually innovating and adapting our standards and approaches to mitigate emerging threats. At the forefront of this is understanding the critical role of technology and AI in today’s environment, and the unique challenges they pose. We utilise tools and countermeasures to ensure our clients remain safe.
From advanced surveillance systems to AI-driven threat intelligence, what role does technology play in your strategy for operational efficiency and proactive threat detection?
We just discussed the critical role of technology and AI in modern security. This era is defined by the convergence of traditional security methods and advanced technology, a synergy that is reshaping the security landscape. We are strategically poised to leverage these new capabilities to elevate our security service delivery, whilst ensuring we always retain expert human control. Our approach involves the conscious ethical integration of these tools to deliver effective and responsible solutions.
Nigeria’s private security industry has long battled issues of regulation and professionalism. What policy changes or industry reforms do you believe are necessary – and how is Mantra leading by example?
The private security landscape in Nigeria is vast, yet the sector urgently requires reform and a more robust regulatory framework for private security guards services, which are currently supervised by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) under the Ministry of Interior. The current Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has signalled a clear intention through policy statements and directives to support the growth of this industry. A vital starting point is ensuring the sustainability of private security guard companies.
This can be achieved by fully implementing previous directives that ensure only licensed private security guard companies are patronised. For our part, we continue to collaborate actively with other forward-looking organisations through the platform of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) to advocate for and stimulate constructive discussions on these critical issues.
Foreign investors often cite insecurity as a major deterrent to doing business in Nigeria. How can private firms like Mantra reposition security as an economic catalyst rather than a cost centre?
This observation highlights the critical role of private security companies in supporting the government’s efforts to project a positive image both to the investing public and the international community. It is undeniable that government security agencies are currently overwhelmed by a myriad of complex issues.
Furthermore, their traditional mandate does not always position them to present the necessary welcoming posture to international visitors. This is where private security providers, like Mantra, become indispensable. By collaborating effectively with relevant government security agencies, we ensure the well-coordinated, curated handling and end-to-end secure transportation of clients within Nigeria. Mantra has successfully and creditably executed this mandate for years, managing security for several high-profile clients and international trade delegations.
Your team includes certified professionals with ASIS International credentials and Nigerian military backgrounds. How do you sustain a culture of skill renewal and accountability at scale?
As part of our corporate culture, we strongly encourage our team members to engage actively in industry organisations and trade groups. This engagement not only promotes valuable networking but also supports continuous professional development and certification programmes. We actively leverage opportunities offered by organisations, such as ASIS International, which provide programs specifically designed to transition ex-military or service personnel into corporate or industrial security roles.
With operations in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and London, what’s your strategic roadmap for regional expansion across Africa – particularly in maritime and aviation security?
We are proud to be celebrating our first decade in business this year, marking a significant milestone built on dedication and client trust. Looking forward, we have set a clear and ambitious strategic plan to propel the company into its next phase of growth. This vision extends far beyond our current operational scope.
We are actively executing a plan for national and regional expansion, solidifying our presence across key markets. This growth trajectory is not limited to the signature services for which we are currently known. Instead, we are strategically moving to launch complementary business areas and innovative offerings that are in direct alignment with, and further enhance, our unique brand identity and core values. This expansion is designed to create a more comprehensive and synergistic ecosystem for our clients, ensuring we remain a dynamic and future-proof leader in the security industry.
If we look five years ahead, what is Mantra’s ambition – to be Nigeria’s most trusted security partner or Africa’s most intelligent risk management company?
Indeed, our ambition is to transcend our current scope and establish ourselves as the preeminent risk management partner of choice, not only within Nigeria but strategically positioned across the entire African continent and, ultimately, globally.
This vision is underpinned by a commitment to delivering innovative, bespoke, and resilient risk solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by emerging and established markets. To achieve this, we are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of various strategic business opportunities, including potential geographic expansions, strategic partnerships, and the integration of cutting-edge technology. We are actively scouting for ventures that align with our core values of integrity, expertise, and client-centric security services.
