…“To lack intelligence is to be in the ring blindfolded.” –General David M. Shoup
According to Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, intelligence has four major components: The first is information collection: gathering of raw data through photography, interception of electronic communications, and other methods involving technology. Second is information analysis: analysis of information is necessary if it is to be useful to policy makers and military commanders. The third component is covert operations: covert actions can range from persuasion or propaganda to paramilitary actions, an “activity midway between diplomacy and war” and the final component is counterintelligence: to protect a society (and especially its intelligence capabilities) against harm that might be inflicted by hostile intelligence services.
And as Mark Lowenthal sees it, there are quite a few reasons why nation states have intelligence agencies. The first is to avoid strategic surprise, that is, to keep track of threats, forces, events, and developments that are capable of threatening the nation’s existence; second, to provide long-term expertise to short-term policy makers within the bureaucracy since a great deal of knowledge and expertise on national security issues resides in a relatively stable intelligence community. Third, to support the policy process as policy makers have a constant need for tailored, timely intelligence that will provide background, context, information, warning, and assessment of risks, benefits, and likely outcomes.” Moreover, there is the need to maintain the secrecy of information, needs, and methods.
Every nation-state has intelligence agencies. But some agencies are known around the world because of their spectacular successes. The preeminent include MOSSAD; Soviet-era KGB and their successor, the FSB (Federal Security Service); the British’ Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6, and its other half, the Security Service, commonly known as MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5); and America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In addition to the CIA, the United States Intelligence Community (I.C.) has sixteen other agencies – all working to protect and defend its people, sovereignty and national interest.
Nigeria has multiple intelligence agencies. Publicly available records indicate that the National Security Organization (NSO) was the main intelligence body in the country until 1986, when the then head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, promulgated Decree 19 effectively dissolved the NSO, and in its place created three self-governing intelligence entities: The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which is the military intelligence unit; the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which is responsible for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence; and the State Security Service (SSS) which acts as the agency responsible for domestic activities.
In addition to the aforementioned organization, there are other para-intelligence outfits. For instance, the Nigerian Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, all have intelligence outfit. And so does the presidency. In addition, every state in the nation has security budget and security agencies. In spite of their manpower, and in spite of the billions of naira that are yearly allocated to these agencies and outfits, their efforts has been futile. In the last two decades at least, the intelligence community has failed the Nigerian government in unimaginable ways.
While it is true that the very best of intelligence organizations around the world suffers occasional lapses and defeats, the Nigerian situation is more than occasional. Its record of failure is chronic and constant and debilitating. Something else is true: Intelligence organizations around the world rarely boast about their successes. However, considering what’s been happening and or nor happening in Nigeria in the last couple of years, one would be surprised if its intelligence agencies has recorded spectacular successes.
No one knows how Nigerians have been walk-ins for the American, the British and other intelligence organizations. And indeed, no one knows how many Nigerians are at the service of such intelligence organizations. Acquiring information from open and secret sources in Nigeria is a very easy task. And not a few have commented that listening and recording devices are awash in Nigeria — planted in our airports and seaports, ministries, official government residences, computer and electronic gadgets of targeted personnel. Hence, counter-intelligence is very weak.
We also know that thousands of Nigerians and foreigners are engaged in illegal oil deals and in other crimes– including white-collar crimes, transnational armed robbery, transnational prostitution and cross-border child trafficking, yet the government have no way of stopping or policing these activities. Today, a Cuban, Argentine or Israeli can walk into Nigeria and buy a Nigeria passport; an Icelander can walk into the ministry of defense and walk out with a bag full of top-secret information; an American can easily listen to President Jonathan discussing state secrets. And especially in times when the president goes to Germany and elsewhere for medical treatment, he endangers our national security.
Recent failings have been some of the most appalling. To think that after all these years, the intelligence community has not been able to infiltrate Boko Haram and other criminal and terror groups? How difficult could that be? The government had no inkling that the group was going to overran Mubi and other towns and villages in Adamawa and elsewhere. On several occasions, the group and some of its leaders have roamed the street in broad daylight with no security and intelligence agents within miles of such contempt, audacity and bravado.
It’s been five years since the group, in its current form, made its first outing and is today waxing stronger by the passing of every month. And who could forget the bogus peace deal between the government and those pretending to represent Boko Haram. How embarrassing was that? In spite of its domestic and foreign assets, it could not determine the identity and truthfulness of a supposed Boko Haram representative?
It is inconceivable that any of Nigeria’s neighbors would invade her. Even so, it was inconceivable a couple of years ago that Nigeria would be a haven for religious fanatics and ideological zealots. It was inconceivable that Nigeria would become a country where high crimes would be committed without the government knowing about it or knowing how to stop or combat it. Whatever the failure of the Jonathan administration is in this regard, the intelligence community also must share in the blame. This is so because they have not been good at what they do. At the very least, they have not been very good at what Mark Lowenthal, Abram Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt posits to be the duties, responsibility and reason for being of intelligence agencies.
At this point in time, one could say that the Nigerian intelligence community does not know itself. It does not know its various enemies, and it certainly does not know what it is doing – or supposed to be doing to keep the people, their government and their national interest safe. And so we think that the time has come for the Nigerian security and intelligence agencies to be reformed and reoriented. Every aspects of their being need to be looked at – especially in terms of training, focus and culture.
