Nigeria, the oil rich Giant of Africa, fidgets at the mercy of a dangerous vice... Insecurity, thus hindering National Development... But as you know, it is the ground that suffers the discomfort of a giant...
To fully appreciate this sensitive topic we must first of all be conversant with the core terms. In casual use of the word, insecurity may be said to be a state of uncertainty or vulnerability to danger. National Development on the other hand may be defined as a state of growth or directed change of a nation. But following Nigeria' s recent experience we might want to be specific and suggest 'positive change'.
A former inspector General of police once stated that "National security entails the measures, facilities and systems put in place by the nation to secure it's citizens and resources from the risk of infiltration, sabotage, subversion or theft etc..."
The civil society regards security as " the absence of threat to life, property and social Economic well being of the people"...
The above is in line with section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution. This we shall address later.
However in view of the above, one thing is made crystal clear, insecurity is indeed a threat and a menace to National Development.
The Concept of Insecurity in Nigeria...
The international Covenant on Economic, social and cultural rights 1966, recognises the right of Everyone to social security, including social insurance, thus it is our right to be secure.
However in the past five to six years the federal government has earmarked trillions of naira in an attempt to combat insecurity challenges, the state government has also set aside billions of naira to address the issue of law and order. In fact private individuals have also given out funds to other private individuals to protect their lives and property... This is how sensitive the topic of insecurity affects Nigeria as a whole.
But despite all these resources spent, the trouble of insecurity still dares us, and it seems the government agencies and instruments put in place are not enough to guarantee the safety of lives and property.
In recent years, Nigeria has suffered the insecurity breach of kidnapping/ hostage taking, terrorism, theft and armed robbery and now the Advent of the Fulani herdsmen and militants who have now given themselves an exclusive brand called the "Niger Delta Avengers".
However, understanding the concept of insecurity is quite tricky, as a result of the fact that although the term connotes a divergent but somewhat similar meaning to different classes of people, it might not be easily understood on the surface.
For instance laws which require the government to create jobs, social amenities and infrastructure, poverty alleviation etc... Are violated as budgets and diverted and cornered by some 'pot bellied' public officials and these officials are treated like "sacred cows" by law enforcement agencies as they have their protection. while radical political parties and the wounded progressive civil society as a whole, who would like the government to keep their words and meet the obligations of the people are tagged "security risks". But then is the security not meant for the people?...
However a very sensitive question might come to mind... " WHAT IS THE BRAIN CHILD OF NIGERIA'S INSECURITY?"
Section 14(2)(b) clearly states that " the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government"...
Thus... Can we rightly say that this is a situation of "Quis custodiet ipsos custodiet"?... Whose anchor rests on the concept of the guardian unleashing violence of the guarded. Is it the guardian that hunts the guarded?...
We will address the above shortly. However, a balance must be created between National security, human security and individual freedoms.
To address the question raised earlier, we might want to address the sending of armed troops to invade communities under the guise of searching for criminal suspects as a sabotage of National security.
The above assertion is as a result of the fact that, during the Military invasions of Odi in Bayelsa, Zaki Biam in Benue state and Gbaramotu in Delta state, scores of law abiding citizens, citizens whose right to security has been well defined by the constitution of this great nation, were killed and properties worth several billions of naira were destroyed. This is the campaign of a rag tag army whose operation follows the order of killing a few to scare millions...
Furthermore, most members of the political class, for want of ideas desperately set out to engage in divide et impera tactics and promote backward ideas like zoning, Religion, ethnicity and other primordial agendas while sweeping, sensitive issues of poverty, unemployment, infrastructural decay and insecurity of lives and properties under the carpet.
To further Throw light on this national joke, the ongoing crisis in the National assembly is centred on the share of positions, while the Nigerians who voted for change are soliciting for legislative programmes that will tackle the problems of corruption, unemployment and insecurity amongst others.
Thus, it is the submission of Femi Falana that the country cannot guarantee law and order unless the labour movement and other progressive forces are prepared to wage a battle which will ensure that the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed at best to serve the common good...
However It is my submission that, unless the government are able to carry out their duties and obligations to satisfactorily meet the needs of the people, we will never be able to attain National security, peace and progress. As the radical members of the society will continue to act as catalysts of National Development and the government in turn will tag them as security risks, and would therefore want to strike back and be in breach of section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution... In essence the cycle would continue.
THE CONCEPT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND HOW IT IS AFFECTED BY INSECURITY IN NIGERIA.
National Development is the ability of a country or countries to improve the social welfare of the people by means such as providing social amenities and infrastructure, education, medical care and a host of others...
THE MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL SECURITY BY SECURITY AGENCIES...
The National security organisation (NSO) was dissolved in 1986,thus the brain child of the establishment of the three National Security agencies namely:
- The State Security Service (SSS)
- The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)
- The National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
Section 2 of the Act provides that the defence intelligence agency shall be charged with the responsibility for the prevention and detection of crimes of a military nature against the security of Nigeria. While the National intelligence agency is concerned with the general maintenance of the security of Nigeria outside Nigeria, concerning matters that are not related to military issues.
The duty of the state security service is the prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against the internal security of Nigeria.
Other Agencies of the state in charge of the maintenance of law and order include the police, armed forces, immigration and prisons.
Realising that the law enforcement are all equipped to fight certain criminal activities in the society, a number of specialised agencies have also be established by the state, they include the Nigerian Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA), federal Road safety commission (FRSC), the independent corrupt practices and other related offences commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial crimes commission (EFCC) and the National food Drug and Administration council (NAFDAC).
Despite the presence of the above listed Nigeria still suffers insurgency in the form of terrorism ( the Bokoharam sect), invasion of the Fulani herdsmen, the militants (Niger Delta Avengers) and kidnapping/ hostage taking amongst others
We shall discuss the above core security breaches briefly.
- The militants of the Niger Delta
This group I believe was born out of the sufferings of the people of the Niger Delta, who had to endure the destruction of their land by their own natural endowment (crude oil) again a major failings of the government.
Today in Nigeria, Bayelsa is regarded as one of the most polluted States, the people of the Niger Delta however had to suffer, lack of good drinking water and destruction of life form in the water there of, due to the discovery of oil in their state.
Furthermore by virtue of derivation, 13% of the country's revenue is said to be allocated to oil producing States, the oil producing States are thus supposed to look the most developed especially as most of them are small in size.
But as we are all aware corruption has had a lot to do with Nigeria's present problems. The course fought by the militants was understood at some point, but was politics and the enjoyment of gains, later introduced.... My answer is yes. I mean, demands were made to the federal government and they extended amnesty to them without rancour.
But facing the present issue of the militants we might now discuss their new brand "the Niger Delta Avengers".
A day after chevron' s Okan offshore production platform in Warri Delta state, suspected Militants blew up a 16 inch gas pipe line, owned by the NNPC
A group called the Niger Delta Avengers have taken responsibility for the Explosion.
It said in a statement on its website...
“To keep to our promise, the three days
ultimatum given to Chief Government
Ekpemupolo has elapsed and he failed to
apologise to the Niger Delta Avengers, at
10:00 pm Thursday, May 5, 2016, our
strike team 4 hit the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation crude and gas
lines.
“The crude line feeds the Warri and
Kaduna refineries respectively, while the
gas line feeds the Lagos and Abuja
electricity power supply. With this
development the Warri and Kaduna
refineries will be shut down and all cities
that depend on the gas line for power will
all be in total darkness like the creeks of
the Niger Delta.”
“We want you the public to know that despite
the heavy presence of military operatives,
our activities can’t stop and it just waste
of funds and time to let the Nigerian
military protect oil installations”, the
group bragged.
“This is a clear warning to all Niger Delta
politicians, traditional rulers, community
leaders and the likes of Tompolo to mind
their business and leave the liberation of
the Niger Delta people to the Avengers.
Those who believe taking sides with the
federal government to fight Niger Delta is
the best option, Avengers are here on the
ground. Neither you nor the federal
government can stop us. If you don’t stay
clear and let us carry out our activities,
we will bring the fight to your individual
doorsteps. Our major goal is to cripple the
Nigeria economy”, the group warned...
Hmm... So much for security in Nigeria.
Due to this insurgency in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian Economy will indeed be crippled as Nigeria makes 80% of its revenue from crude oil, this would indeed hinder National Development.
The Fulani herdsmen
The Advent of the Fulani herdsmen, had brought about serious insecurity issues as a whole, a few weeks back in Okada, Edo state Nigeria. the dismembered body parts of a farmer, an indigene of Okada was discovered. And the people said to be behind this are rumoured to be fulani herds men. The Tort of strict liability for animals have now prepared a ground for the shedding of blood, thus discrediting the judicial system already put in place.
Shortly after the Okada incident which led to protests from the indigenes, an increased state of insecurity and a suspension of educational and economic activities, a few weeks later, came the Enugu massacre.
... At the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo,Chief John Akor, a cluster of policemen were seated under a mango tree, guarding the palace.
The monarch who said it was wrong to call the herdsmen Fulani, noted that the herdsmencame in from neighbouring Kogi State.
He said,
“The killing happened in three
villages out of the 10 villages that make
up Nimbo. The villages are Ugu Echera,
Ngwoko and Unasi.
“The attack happened between 6.30am
and 7.30am that day when we started
getting distress calls, suggesting that
herdsmen were attacking our people in
the three villages.
“The herdsmen were killing most of their
victims by slitting their throats with
machetes and swords. They were even
celebrating the massacre. Our people
were slaughtered like fowls and yet,
nobody has been arrested to account for
such evil.“What I’m sure of is this: 12
persons died on that day and one died
yesterday (Wednesday) at the last count.
Many are still in hospital with serious
injuries.
The Advent of the group which the people now refer to as the 'fulani herdsmen' has indeed affected Nigeria's National Development, as Nigeria generates 10% of its revenue from Agriculture, and the destruction of crops by cattle will be a major set back for agriculture. But most importantly, the fear of farmers for their lives would not even encourage them to carry out their agricultural activities.
This herdsmen insurgency as a whole has brought about great fear, and insecurity especially on the part of those who receive letters of threats from them, and activities will totally pack up in communities where they have promised to embark on revenge killings...
The Bokoharam Sect
This group have a very twisted history... However they have created quite an infamous reputation which has earned Nigeria the world's consolation, they have been involved in indiscriminate killings of the innocent, bombings and hostage taking.
Their aim is to cripple Western Education. And they went further to enforce their motive by the killing of school students and even the kidnap of young innocent girls from schools and neighboring villages in the Northern Nigeria
This is a major set back to National Development in Nigeria, because apart from the fact that positive creativity cannot be born out of fear and insecurity. Prior to their beliefs there will be no progress in Nigeria without Education.
The world is fast changing and women have made their mark in Nigeria as much as men have, thus it is time to dispense with the notion of the kitchen and baby production as a symbol of the Nigerian woman.
This is one group that you cannot share their plight.
Kidnapping
Unlike the other insurgencies, which are either indiscriminate or centred on the government. This is centred on the rich folks, and the people of reputation. It is quite a horrible insecurity challenge and has caused the death of many who were not ordinarily as rich as they thought and thus could not meet up the ransom payment.
The house of assembly have been quite dogmatic in dealing with the problem of kidnapping, as preparations have been made to pass bills giving out the capital punishment (death) to these law offenders.
Who knows if it is because they are likely victims of this insurgency.
However, it is believed that the activities of the Niger Delta militants is the brain child of modern day kidnapping.
This insurgency has indeed affected National Development as this troubled climate created by kidnappers have frightened both domestic and foreign investors, and has also led to the uneasiness of the affluent class of the society..
Could this insurgency also be a child born of the country's unemployment problems? Crime should not be an excuse. But it would do Nigeria great good if the dogma used to fight crimes affecting the rich should also be used to attend to problems affecting the society as a whole...
Remedies for insecurity
The late Dr Bala usman suggested that there can only be political stability for our type of Democracy if those freely elected rule in accordance with the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy and decide to make the security and welfare of the people the primary purpose of government.
Furthermore the use of extra ordinary military measures in the name of "National security" for any other purpose should therefore be discouraged.
The government and security agencies should give us more to believe in, on that grounds individuals may now have more faith in calling security agents when anything suspicious and likely to endanger lives and properties is discovered.
Security is the obligation of you and I.
THIS ARTICLE INSECURITY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA, WHICH IS AN ADAPTATION OF FEMI FALANA'S INSECURITY, A MENANCE TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WAS COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY TOVIA OMOIJAHE.
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