Security challenges facing Nigeria – The way forward

Insecurity and terrorism have presented major challenges to the Nigerian government in recent years. Nigeria has faced security challenges in the form of terrorism and banditry for well over a decade. Before the inception of the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, large portions of Nigerian territory were carved out and fell under the control of Boko […]

Insecurity and terrorism have presented major challenges to the Nigerian government in recent years. Nigeria has faced security challenges in the form of terrorism and banditry for well over a decade. Before the inception of the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, large portions of Nigerian territory were carved out and fell under the control of Boko Haram. In the northern part of Borno State, places like Abadam Local Government were under the effective control of Boko Haram for almost five years. However, through the concerted effort and determination of President Buhari, no portion of Nigerian territory is currently under the control of a terrorist group. In my opinion, this is one of the finest accomplishments of Buhari’s presidency.

The success of the Buhari administration in liberating every portion of Nigerian territory from the effective control of terrorist groups cannot be overemphasised. However, the sustained national war on terrorism has had some negative results. Namely,  “Boko Haram” groups of North East Nigeria have now transformed to comprise banditry in the North West and North Central regions of Nigeria. Banditry and kidnapping in these regions are the direct results of poor governance at both state and local levels.

The efforts of our security agencies in the fight against insecurity must be appreciated but, despite their efforts, challenges continue to linger. The pattern of insecurity has now been regionalised and there are: militia groups in the South; insurgency and banditry in the North; kidnapping, killings and destruction of properties in the East and South, and ritual killings in the East and West. Government must stop these regional warlords as they pose a significant security and economic threat to the people. Thus, it is imperative to adopt an approach that is more robust and more holistic in nature than anything that has been done before.

The first approach involves bringing together the police and all past service chiefs and heads of security outfits such as the DSS and NIA. The purpose of this is to develop a road map that can be implemented to tackle the challenges of insecurity in a manner that is tailored to the needs of each individual region of Nigeria. The Nigerian government has already provided these organisations with opportunities to gather and combine their knowledge and experience on issues of security. It would be wise to benefit from their bank of knowledge and deal efficiently with the challenges that presently beset Nigeria.

The second approach would be to involve the heads of security agencies in the republics of Niger, Cameroon, Benin and Chad to confront the challenges facing Nigeria and the wider region. Another approach, that has already been successful in Nigerian waterways, is to utilise the Nigerian Navy’s “Falcon Eye” maritime technology “Beyond the Horizon” on Nigeria’s land borders. This would bolster territorial integrity and, considering the growing security challenges facing the countries within the Sahel region of West Africa, send a positive message to the leaders of neighbouring countries who look to Buhari for leadership.

Considering the above, and if urgent steps are not taken, there is a likelihood that the 2023 general election will incite tension and exacerbate existing security issues. God forbid!

To conclude, security is one of the three primary focuses of President Buhari’s administration. Constructing a team of retired service chiefs and heads of security agencies to deal with perennial insecurity in Nigeria will be an endearing legacy of this administration. It will become a reference point for the future and demonstrate a determination to deal with insecurity in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region of Africa.

Hurso Adam, Ph.D. wrote from Abuja, email: [email protected]