Insecurity – What The President Can Do

DURING 2010 Bauchi attack, there were complaints about a break down of intelligence. Residents insisted that it was worse. There seemed to have been outright ignoring of petitions people filed with the security agencies about Boko Haram. Not much seems to have changed as clinical execution of recent jail breaks testified.

A strong scent of sabotage swirls round these jail breaks as well as the attacks. We warned in 2010 Boko Haram could attack other prisons, in other cities. Did government act?

“We are saddened by the insecurity in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Borno State and the continuous killings in Jos, Plateau State,” Minister of Information Labaran Maku said then.

“Mr. President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is very concerned and has vowed to beef up security in the country. The Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, in collaboration with other security agencies, is doing everything possible to fish out the evil perpetrators. The Federal Government is ready to bring them to justice because security agencies have been deployed to these (crises) States and the work is going to be round the clock.” Where are the results?

The myriad of internal problems aside, Nigeria was paradoxically on the threshold of economic ascendancy by 2010. She was ranked the 39th strongest and the third fastest growing economy in the world.

With the terrorists taking on foreigners and the internal upheavals their attacks are capable of causing, Nigeria would have to deal with its security challenges quickly, before her economy suffers more adversity.

The focus might be on terrorists in the North East, but other crimes like armed robberies are on the increase. The attention on bombings have made the security agencies to ignore the rising incidents of attacks on our highways even in broad daylight.

Almost all points of the Lagos — Ibadan Expressway are unsafe no matter the time. The Benin — Sagamu Expressway has many points where armed robbers freely operate. Highways leading to Abuja, from different parts of the country suffer similar attacks. Kidnapping is becoming more wide spread. More needs to be done at the level of intelligence gathering. Some past security breaches left Nigerians wondering about the roles of the various security agencies. Intelligence gathering should include solutions to the challenges.

The President must attend to the elongating queue of the unemployed. He should embark on programmes that can create jobs. Government’s actions and spending should reflect a concern for the people, many of who are suffering.

Among the things that the President can immediately do is past paced development of infrastructure to enhance the security of lives and property.

Nigerians want peace. They know that security is critical to attain the greatness that awaits our country. They would embrace the search for peace, when government is willing to seek their partnership through programmes that reflect “that the security and welfare of the people” are “the primary purpose of government.”