If incidents feel “random,” it’s usually because your security controls aren’t measured. A short, structured security audit, done monthly, can expose 80% of your risk in under two hours. This guide gives estates, offices, and factories in Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos a practical checklist you can run today, plus a 30-day plan to fix the top findings.

Why do a monthly audit?

• Catch drift: Gates, cameras, guard drills, and lighting degrade over time.

• Prove diligence: Clean logs, photos, and KPIs help with insurance and management reviews.

• Spend smarter: Direct limited budgets to the highest-impact fixes first.

The 90-Minute Audit: What to check

1) Perimeter & Gates (15 min)

• Fences/walls intact (no holes, low points, or climb aids).

• Gates close fully; hinges and locks work; spare keys under control.

• Signage visible: “CCTV in operation,” visitor policy, speed and parking rules.

• Deliverable: 4–6 photos of weakest segments + notes.

2) Access Control & Reception (15 min)

• Visitor logging (ID capture, purpose, host confirmation).

• Badge/permit system for contractors and temporary staff.

• Tailgating prevention (turnstiles, door closers, guard position).

• Package screening and delivery area control.

• Deliverable: Screenshot/photo of logbook system; count of tailgating opportunities.

3) CCTV & Monitoring (15 min)

• Camera coverage of gates, perimeter corners, car parks, cash/asset zones.

• Night performance (IR/low-light) and clean lenses; no glare or obstructions.

• Recording health (uptime, storage retention, time sync).

• Someone is actually watching critical feeds at critical hours.

• Deliverable: Coverage map marked “OK/blind/poor at night.”

4) Lighting & Power (10 min)

• Uniform illumination on approaches, car parks, generator/fuel stores.

• Motion sensors where full-time lighting isn’t feasible.

• Backup power tested; automatic switchover time recorded.

• Deliverable: Lux check at two hotspots (rough visual benchmark ok).

5) Guard Force & Procedures (15 min)

• Post orders visible and current (not outdated printouts).

• Random patrols logged; radio checks on schedule.

• Incident escalation tree (who gets called, in what order).

• Deliverable: One short, timed drill (see below) + timestamped radio log.

6) Emergency Readiness (10 min)

• First aid kit, extinguisher charge dates, and assembly points marked.

• “Panic” or duress channels tested; clear codewords.

• Nearest clinic/hospital contact verified this month.

• Deliverable: Photo of kit + printed emergency card.

7) High-Value Zones (10 min)

• Server room, safe room, fuel/storage, critical spares, access limited & logged.

• Door/lock integrity, CCTV coverage, and seal/tamper checks.

• Deliverable: List of who had access this week.

Run a 5-Minute Drill (Pick One)

• Gate breach simulation: Guard must challenge a “lost visitor” who tries to tailgate; note response time & script adherence.

• Radio blackout: Switch to backup channel and confirm all posts acknowledge within 60 seconds.

• Power cut: Confirm CCTV and lighting resume correctly on the generator/inverter.

Record results and gaps. Small, frequent drills change behavior.

30-Day Remediation Plan (Prioritize by Impact)

P0 (Days 1–7): Immediate risk reducers

• Fix broken gates/locks on critical access points.

• Restore cameras covering entrances/cash/asset areas.

• Implement host-confirmation for all visitors and contractors.

• Night lighting on approaches and car parks.

P1 (Days 8–21): Process & visibility

• Update post orders and escalation tree; train guards.

• Create a simple Daily Occurrence Book (DOB) with timestamps and checklists.

• Add anti-tailgating cues (floor decals, stanchions, door closers).

• Align CCTV retention + time sync; standardize camera names (Gate-A, Perim-NW, etc.).

P2 (Days 22–30): Controls & optimization

• Badge/permit printing for visitors/contractors with color coding.

• Motion-activated lighting in low-traffic zones.

• Monthly “health” dashboard: uptime, missed patrols, drill scores, and incident count.

KPIs that actually move the needle

• Incident rate / 1,000 users or vehicles

• % of cameras recording & healthy (target ≥98%)

• Tailgating attempts intercepted (trend should go ↑ then ↓ after awareness)

• Drill pass rate (target ≥90% within 60 days)

• Mean time to respond (MTR) at gates and critical zones

Templates you can copy

Visitor Log (minimum fields): Date/time · Name · ID type/number · Host · Purpose · Badge # · In/Out times · Escort (Y/N)

Daily Guard Checklist (AM/PM):

• Radios check

• Backup channel

• Gate locks/latches

• Vehicle mirror checks

• Patrol clock-in times: : / : / :

• CCTV screen on, recording light visible

• Lighting check after dusk

• DOB entries up to date

Layering with Tech (Optional but High-ROI)

• ANPR (auto plate recognition) at vehicle gates for audit trails.

• Video analytics for loitering, line crossing at night.

• UAV perimeter sweeps at shift change and after-hours (e.g., estates, depots).

• Panic buttons/duress codes mapped to a siren + SMS/call tree.

Why clients choose NetHawk for audits

• Field-ready playbooks: We don’t just “report”, we fix.

• Integrated approach: Guards + access + CCTV + lighting + UAV overwatch where useful.

• Local context: Practical solutions that work in Kaduna, Abuja, and Lagos environments.

• Measurable outcomes: From week-one quick wins to quarter-on-quarter KPI improvements.

FAQs: Security Audit in Nigeria

Q1: How often should we audit?
Monthly is ideal. Some estates do a “lite” weekly walk-through plus a full monthly audit.

Q2: Our budget is tight, what first?
Prioritize gates/locks, night lighting, and camera coverage at entrances and high-value zones. These stop the most incidents per naira.

Q3: What if we don’t have CCTV yet?
Start with lighting, guard drills, and strict visitor logs. Add cameras in phases, entrance → car park → blind perimeter corners.

Q4: Should we audit day or night?
Both. Many gaps only appear after dark (lighting, camera IR, patrol behavior).

Call to Action

Want a same-week audit with a 30-day remediation plan? Book a Site Security Audit with NetHawk. We’ll walk your perimeter, test your controls, and hand you a prioritized, budget-aware action list.

• Kaduna Office: +234 (0) 906 7879 766

• Email: info@nethawksolutions.org

• Related services: Guarding · Access Control · CCTV · UAV Patrols