The Solution To Nigeria’s Security Quagmire, “A Paradigm Shift” -By Jimoh Faruk Moses

As the saying goes, security is everyone business because when the integrity of a/an nation, country, state, organization and entity is compromised, the consequences of such compromise is borne upon everyone both directly and indirectly.

Security is an important and fundamental sector in any nation, country, state, organization and entity, security is the backbone and first and last protective tool in any country, hence the need for every government to give a keen emphasis, concentration, resources both human and nonhuman to her security sector, if such country or government would want to protect the supremacy and the sovereignty of her nation.

It is obvious that for more than a decade now, the Nigerian security has been in a mayhem, the integrity of the Nigerian security has been put in doubt ranging from the Nigerian police force, the Nigerian army, the Nigerian air force, the Nigerian naval force among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Nigerian security has been seen to display an act of non-transparency, non-tranquility and they have become partial from the top to the bottom. Also some elements of unwillingness to work or serve is been displayed, owing to so many route causes, high percentage of this cause is as a result of poor governance, inadequate and improper resource allocation for administrative, technical and tactical use.

More so, an element of injustice, maltreatment is been observed, in this scenario the security personnel who are supposed to be protecting and securing lives and properties of the harmless innocent citizens are now the ones harming and exploiting the harmless innocent citizens for no just cause and when these security personnel are apprehended, they are not being punished as stated in the law. Instead they are been transferred to another location. Research has always have it that the Nigerian security is rated to be among the worst when been compared.

Although one of the major cause of Nigerian insecurity sprang up from among the Nigerian citizens itself, because of the adoption of certain wrong conducts which are seen as been normal, because there are no efficient and effective authority to monitor, supervise and oversee to all the affairs of the Nigerian security. Perhaps this why everyone behaves and act the way he or she wishes.

Also there are perceptions and perhaps no concrete evidence but encompassed with some elements of truth that there is a political influence the menacing state of Nigerian security The poor salary and health status of the Nigerian security can be seen as one of the major leading factor to the instability of Nigerian security. The quest and over desire for power, position, wealth has its own parts to play in the insecurity problem occurring in Nigeria.

Non-standard, non-confidential and confirmative life assurance of an average security personnel had made them not to be keenly patriotic to the nation because there is this question “if I risk my life and die, who will take care of my immediate family”, that assurance is not there because even when they are alive it is wavering, how much more when they are gone.

Health is defined as the state of complete wellbeing of an individual sociologically, mentally, emotionally and physiologically. Nigerian security is one that do not take into consideration and have a negligence attitudes towards the health status of the security personnel.

Moreover, an employee or personnel or worker can only deliver well, accurately and efficiently when he or she is emotionally, mentally, psychologically, physiologically and socially sound and balanced.

Paramount to the above factors leading to instability in the Nigerian security sector both in manpower and technical know-how.

The machines, tools and equipment used are old, non-standard when compared to their opponents own (the bandits, the herdsmen, kidnappers, Boko Haram etc.). As the saying goes “you cannot give what you don’t have or render a service you do not have a prior knowledge of”. If a country or a government in this 21st century decides to equip her security sector with out of use, ancient, quack tools and machines, then they should expect to be rendered in return with a redundant, abase and less if not zero, non-tactical security services.

What is the solution to the Nigerian insecurity, a solution is not given unless a problem is identified and examination is not conducted unless a question has been asked. Hence the need to enumerate the factors causing the Nigerian security to be found in a state of quagmire. To overcome or reduce to the barest minimum the unstable and confused state of the Nigerian security, a tactical, formal organized and technical approach must be inculcated in the running of all aspects, levels and arms of the Nigerian security sector.

First and foremost tranquility must be established from the top (administrative) to the bottom i.e from the high ranked security officers to the least unranked officer in order to provide that sense of belonging and peaceful coexistence and cordiality between the senior and junior officers.

Secondly transparency must be upheld in the whole sector of the Nigerian security. In this case every element capable of depriving or distracting a security personnel (from a top highly ranked security to a low unranked security personnel) from being transparent in conduct and in services should be eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum. For instance, frequent reviewing of salary, allowance, promotions and disciplinary actions towards bad conducts etc.

More so, there is an act that is eating through every sector in Nigerian and the Nigerian security sector in exemption. That act is nothing but partiality and sentiments. To eliminate this menace the Nigerian security personnel must upheld discipline in high esteem and regards, in rendering services, decision making and decision taking.

Government sometimes are seen to be a major instigator of this menace for instance, the politicians. In this case appointments are given in favor of governments or politicians personnel or candidates and not the merited candidate for that position or appointments. As such this creates a loophole in the services rendered by such appointees because they are not technically qualified. In this same partiality culture and religion finds its way in.

All this can be curtailed if discipline is the order of the day and the watchword of the Nigerian security sector. A big example is the Ngozi okonje Iweala. I won’t go further because I don’t want my writing to be sensed with any act of triade.

Perhaps if appointments in the security is given based on merit, I am of the opinion that it will go a long way in mitigating the bog Nigerian security sector has been drowned herself. More so, let the Nigerian government be considerate and show that they are aware and understand what the Nigerian security personnel is facing in difficult times. Let them show that caring attitude and affection and play their responsibility as a good and standard employer to the Nigerian security.

Moreover, if you want to boost the spirit of workmanship of your employees, one integral means of achieving such is by increasing their salaries, consistent giving of allowance and other minor stipends, involvement in their health and economic status.

A high class equipping of the Nigerian security sector will also help in abating this insecurity menace. Moreover, the government needs to know that it is fundamental and essential for them to equip the security sector with the best technological and technical know-how resources in order to protect her supremacy and sovereignty.

The security administrative needs to know that they have to be transparent to their employees (the security personnel) because the output of the security personnel is a function of their administrative input efforts.

The citizens must report every illegal and criminal activities displayed by any security personnel in a legal way for the security administrative to take appropriate measures.

Finally, security should be seen as everyone’s personal business as the saying goes “ be the change you want to see in the world” also “build the man build the community” before you can secure the nation you must be capable of securing yourself.

Jimoh Faruk Moses is a Nigerian Biochemist from Kogi State, Nigeria.