Changing the Paradigm of the Security Architecture of Nigeria

By:Douglas Ogbankwa Esq @douglasogbankwa@gmail.com

The Nigerian Security Architecture needs a new breath of life .As it is currently constituted , the Nigerian Security Architecture is driving on an archaic template in a fast moving world .

It is important that our Security Architecture rejigs itself to meet up with the ever changing world.

Here are some suggestions to change the paradigm :

1.Setting up of a Home Land Security Department , to be headed by a Person Equivalent to a Minister that will rid this Country of the various militia groups and to stop the Kidnappings on our Express Ways .

2.Refocusing the Nigeria Immigration Service to rid this Country of undocumented and illegal Immigrants, who are fueling the insecurity in Nigeria.

3.Protection of our Agrarian Farmers from the Activities of Killer Herdsmen-Many of whom are not Nigerians who have become above the Law and slaughter and rape our people.

4.Dismantling the Illegal Nigeria Custom Service Roadblocks on Nigerian Highways,which are flashpoints of extortion and robbery of innocent Nigerians by armed Custom Agent .Any where in the world the Jurisdiction of The Custom is in the Ports.

5.Restructuring the Nigeria Police Force and Guaranteeing its Independence from Appointment to Operations.Enduring that all the monies budgeted for the Police get to the end users .Remove the Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme ,which has adversely affected the morale of Police Officers and Operatives .Also make the Pension of ACs,DCs and CPs and other officers / rank and file , as rewarding as those of AIGS and above .

6.Increase Nigeria 's Surveillance capacity by deploying technology like CCTV and other ICT Compliant Government should make it compulsory for all businesses to have CCTV inside and outside the business premises .Every local government area should have a command and control centre.

7.Create a common identity and forensic database to solve crime in Nigeria.

8.Tackle the issues of oil bunkering to shore up our revenue as a country.

9.Tighten the the accounting and audit policy in Nigeria by stopping cash transactions in Government MDAs.

10.Creating an Office of the Director of National Intelligence, different from the national security adviser .The Director of National Intelligence coordinates the Intelligence Component of all the about 17 Federal Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria, while the National Security Adviser should be an academic who will churn out policies for national security.More like the brain box that will run a think tank for national security

11.The strengthening of the forest rangers that will take control of our forests to protect our forests against the foreign mercenaries that have taken over our forests .

12.Provide for the Office of the Federal Prosecutor in every major town in Nigeria with many Lawyers working under them, to ensure a synchronised prosecutorial policy in Nigeria.

13.Ensure that the allocation of the Judiciary at all Levels are paid from the first line charge to all Heads of Courts in Nigeria, as Provided for in Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (As Amended), to ensure the Independence of the Judiciary.Remove the President and Governors from the appointment and swearing processes to secure the independence of the Judiciary.

About the Author:

Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.
,@douglasogbankwa@gmail.com , is the Convener of the Security Situation Room.