Last week, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, issued instructions to his newly appointed security chiefs to collaborate in putting an end to the persistent insecurity in the country.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, revealed after a closed-door meeting with the President and Service Chiefs at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja that Tinubu emphasized the need for teamwork and highlighted the tasks ahead.
Tinubu’s directive aligns with his previous order to the former Service Chiefs on June 1, where he made it clear that he would not tolerate conflicting efforts.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has been grappling with severe security challenges for over a decade. In addition to the notorious Boko Haram terrorist group, Fulani terrorist groups, armed gangs, kidnappers, and separatist groups continue to worsen the security situation.
According to figures from the Council on Foreign Relations Nigeria Security Tracker, between May 2011 and July 2023, the country recorded 98,906 violent deaths caused by entities such as Boko Haram, state actors, sectarian groups, and other armed groups.
In June 2023, one month after President Tinubu assumed office, 690 people were killed by violent actors in the country.
Tinubu assures that his government is aware of the security situation in Nigeria and is committed to addressing the concerns of Nigerians on this issue. However, many Nigerians remain skeptical about the fulfillment of his promise.
Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, had pledged to end insecurity during his 2015 presidential campaign, citing his military background and determination to combat Boko Haram. However, Buhari failed to end the insurgency in the North-East, leading to numerous massacres and destruction of communities, often attributed to Fulani terrorists who felt protected by their influence within the country’s power structure.
Under Buhari’s leadership, Nigeria experienced a surge in crime, with daily killings and pillaging, particularly by unrestrained ethno-religious militias. The Economist newspaper, in its October 23, 2021 edition, criticized Buhari’s ineffectiveness in tackling the country’s extensive insecurity, attributing the violence to his administration’s corruption and inertia.
Former lawmaker and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani, accused Buhari of wasting money on security while failing to protect the lives of Nigerians.
In his order to the security chiefs, President Tinubu’s new police czar, Kayode Egbetokun, expressed determination to combat Nigeria’s internal enemies and outlined plans to use human and technical intelligence to address the country’s security challenges.
However, the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel from VIP escort and guard duties, announced by the police chief in June, has yet to be implemented.
The Nigerian Police force has a reputation for assigning officers to influential individuals in exchange for money, with over 150,000 policemen attached to VIPs and unauthorized persons.
Tinubu’s ambition to drive Nigeria’s economy to a $1 trillion level by 2031 hinges on his ability to reform the security services, police, and military. However, Nigeria’s security architecture is currently inadequate to meet the demands of the next decade.
The police force is understaffed, demoralized, poorly trained, and plagued by corruption. The military, too, suffers from readiness issues, including being understaffed, ill-equipped, and poorly led. The lack of coordination among the military services hampers counterinsurgency efforts.
To achieve effective security reform, Tinubu’s administration must redefine the recruitment process, training, deployment, promotion, and rewards within the military. The deployment of soldiers for internal security operations also needs to align with their core responsibilities to preserve their professionalism.
Overall, the implementation of President Tinubu’s reforms and the revitalization of Nigeria’s security apparatus are essential to address the country’s pressing security concerns and achieve sustainable peace.
