National Security Adviser (NSA) Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has warned Nigerians to take additional security measures in protecting their interests worldwide, following threats by Malian terrorist gangs to attack countries taking part in African Intervention Support Force in Mali (AFISMA).
Dasuki gave the warning in a paper titled Nigeria’s Security Challenges: The Way Forward delivered on his behalf by Major General JB Samuel (rtd) at National Security Seminar organised by the alumni association of National Defence College, saying the recent incident at the Algeria’s oil and gas facility is instructive in planning future security programmes.
According to him, the participation of Nigerian forces in the Malian crisis is bound to open another flank of vulnerability to Nigerian interests worldwide, as the terrorists have vowed to retaliate against any country participating in the operation.
“The greatest and predominant security challenge in the country is terrorism and its related offences as being waged by the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Ladda’awatih wal-jihad, a religion-based Islamic fundamental group, popularly known as Boko Haram who seek to enthrone Sharia government in whole Northern Nigeria,” he said.
The NSA said that the president’s strategy for dealing with the Boko Haram threat is based on a multi-dimensional approach involving all elements of national power. He noted that while security forces operations dominate media headlines, government has also embarked on other activities, spanning “legal reforms, de-radicalisation programmes and strategic public communications.”
“Additionally, the Federal Government, in conjunction with state governments, is making efforts to tackle the issue of unemployment in the effected states as joblessness has been identified as one of the drivers fuelling terrorism in the country,” he added.
In the same vien, the National security Advise has identified data base as the leading measure to be put in place to surmount the country’s numerous security challenges and check future insecurity.
He said the way forward is for the country to improve its nation-building efforts by taking a hard look at the root cause of terrorism, militancy, armed robbery, pipeline Vandalism, kidnapping, fraud, piracy, illegal bunkering, oil theft, illegal fishing, hijacking and socio-security challenges like youth unemployment and climate change.
Dasuki, proffering solutions to the niggling insecurity in the country in a paper titled Nigeria’s Security Challenges: The Way Forward at a national security seminar organised by the alumni association of the National Defence College (NDC), noted that one fundamental essential for tackling insecurity is data base that would documentation and monitoring of the population.
The NSA, whose paper was delivered by Major General JB Samuel, explained that as obtainable in most western countries, Nigeria must have a computerised data base of its citizens with relevant security data linked together, such that security agencies in can easily access to it.
“Currently, the Nigerian population cannot be described as security conscious, therefore, a massive enlightenment of the public is required to create awareness that security agencies alone cannot fight crime and terrorism,” he said.
“At the same time, to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, an introduction of security awareness curricula in primary and secondary schools across the country will partially guarantee security awareness on the youth.”
Equally important, he stressed is the need to reorganise the security agencies for professionalism and effectiveness.
“There is need for far-reaching security sector reforms within some of the security agencies because, so far, only the Military appears to be doing well and is able to remain on track due to its professionalism and regular exposure of officers and men to training and retraining,” he said.
“Closely associated with professionalism is the issue of intelligence liaison. In this regard, all security agencies established by the government need to observe inter-agency cooperation in their relationship by sharing relevant intelligence.”
Admitting that Boko Haram has links with AQIM, AQIAP and El-Shabab from which it receives training and funding, he warned that Boko Haram’s link to external support must be severed to deny it weapons, funds, training and other logistics.
Dasuki also observed that job creation is the solution to youth unemployment, and added that in tackling the security problem, an enabling environment with requisite infrastructure such as stable power supply is needed.
