Defence
By Ige Adekunle
IN recent years, Nigeria has been confronted by many security challenges which range from kidnapping, insurgency, banditry, herders/farmers clashes, among others.
The Federal Government has always assured that it is capable of tackling the situation, in many instances, showcased some it achievements in the fight against the problem.
President Muhammadu Buhari, hosting the Grand Khalifa (overall head) of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Movement World-Wide, Tidjani Ali Bin Arabi at the State House, Abuja assured that the government was doing its best to address the problems.
“We have done our best and we will continue to do more by pursuing coherent and consistent policies to deal with terrorism”, Buhari said.
Similarly, The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor, declared that: “This year should be a turn around, a turning point in overcoming all the security challenges facing our nation. And never again shall we have/face the level of insecurity that has plagued our nation”.
He spoke at the ‘2022 edition of the International Military Soorts “CISM Day Run” organised by the Defence Headquarters, in collaboration with the International Military Sports Council (CISM), in Abuja.
Though insecurity has continued to plague many parts of the country; and Nigeria government makes concerted efforts to resolve the security challenges which have had impacts on food security, poverty alleviation efforts and even the education sector, many Nigerians have urged the acceleration to combat the task.
Mr Tayo Agboola, a Lagos-based cyber security expert called for holistic approach to solving the problem. He said while it is important to apply military approach to the problem, other areas of security such as cyberspace should also receive equal attention.
Agboola said the Federal Government should look critically at issue that are related to internal security such as porous borders, rising poverty, inequality, corruption and inadequate employment opportunities.
He said there was the need to mobilise all stakeholders, including religious leaders, academics, experts in different fields such as economics to form a formidable force against all forms of insecurity, particularly terrorism and banditry.
“The issue of insecurity required that all hands must be on the deck, as the military and other security agencies alone cannot solved the myriad of insecurity in the country,” he said. He said that if the insecurity was not addressed the country risked underdevelopment, hunger and poverty in the near future.
Prof. Remi Alarape, a psychologist, identified idleness, redundancy and failure of leadership, as some of the major factors responsible for insecurity in the country.
Alarape, also a Senior Lecturer, University of Ibadan, said that the consequences of insecurity are fear, drug abuse, armed robbery, kidnapping, political hooliganism
He said it is obvious that insecurity not only have consequences on government revenue but also on that of individuals, adding that it also reduces Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), decline in productivity, decimation of consumer confidence, among others.
He urged the federal government to make emphatic efforts toward strengthening the surveillance of nation’s borders to prevent influx of criminal and ammunition into the country.
Dr Tunde Jegede, a sociologist, said that in addition to taking thousands of lives in recent years, insecurity terrorists have also destroyed properties such as residential houses, schools and hospitals, which are estimated to cost several millions of naira, and rendering thousands of families homeless in the process.
Jegede, also a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, attributed the causes of insecurity to bad governance, weak judicial system, ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance.
“The inability of Nigeria government to adequately fix the challenges of poverty and unequal distribution of wealth among the nationalities in the country is a major contributor to insecurity we are experiencing,” he said.
The sociologist also said that investment in education, health, livelihoods, especially for the youths, would help to check spate of insecurity.
As the nation mounts a strong challenge to combat insecurity, it is vital that all arms and tiers of government and well-meaning Nigerians should cooperate to tame the menace.
A personnel audit of military, police and paramilitary personnel will reveal the need or otherwise for more recruitment into these agencies. Stakeholders also argue that there is the need to update the capabilities of these to deal with modern day security challenges and as well as to seek international counter-terrorism collaboration, where necessary. (NAN)
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Tags: Ige Adekunle Lucky Irabor Muhammadu Buhari Prof. Remi Alarape Tidjani Ali Bin Arabi
