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Nigeria @ 61: Experts urge FG, states to prioritise all aspects of security

Some security experts in Lagos have called on the Federal and state governments to make security of citizens their priorities as Nigeria celebrates 61 years of nationhood.

They made the call on Friday in separate  interviews  in reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s address on the anniversary of Nigeria’s attainment of 61 years of independence.

Nigeria gained independence  from the British Government on Oct.1,1960.

According to them, all aspects of good security including the provision of  food, infrastructure, employments, power and conducive environment must be given priority attention by the government.

They also called on parents, faith-based organisations and  the traditional institution being the closest to the people, families, religions and ethnic nationalities to to embrace peace and security in their respective domains.

According to Mr Segun Musa, a security expert, Nigeria will do well if priorities are set right.

Musa, who pointed out that Nigeria did well in the sixties, seventies and eighties, said that the successes recorded  then were not because the set of people in governments were angels, rather, because their priorities were set right.

“One of our major set backs as a country is lack of well defined national interest. Suffice it to say without defining our national interest, it will be difficult to formulate workable policies that will address our challenges and proffer  lasting solutions to them,” he said.

Musa, therefore, called for technocrats as leaders to pilot the  affairs of the country.

He noted that the impacts of international influences militating against the rapid development of Nigeria would be minimal if there were leaders with whirlpool knowledge and level of intelligence to take the lead.

Also, Mr Ikechukwu Nwanguma, a civil society group leader and a  security expert, said the 61st anniversary of Nigeria’s independence offered opportunities for sober reflection and soul searching by Nigerians, especially,  those in leadership positions.

Nwanguma called on those in authorities to address issues that seem to be dividing Nigerians and Nigeria.

“Insecurity has grown from the Boko Haram menace in the North-East to banditry and kidnapping spreading from the North-West to the North-Central and other parts of the country.

“Armed herdsmen terrorism  is also spreading across. Peaceful separatist agitations have taken a violent turn. Government should address agitators’ legitimate concerns,” he said.

He also alleged that insecurity would be  heightened when some elements within the security forces used high-handed and repressive brute force approach in response to people exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expressions.

Nwanguma further alleged that the alleged contemptuous disregard for the rule of law by security agencies was an integral  cause of insecurity in Nigeria.

He called on the security agencies to continue to  protect lives and property from  bandits.

For Mr Folorunsho Attah, another security expert, “the military did well in terms of security of lives and property of Nigerians.

“They were decisive in clamping down on security challenges,” he said.

According to him, parents have abandoned their roles as fathers and mothers in pursuit of material things.

He said: “If all these are addressed, we will surely have a well secured society. The culture of discipline and the fear of God must be inculcated into everyone.”

Attah noted that other major causes of insecurity were ignorance, poverty and lack of education, stressing that Boko Haram insurgents were illiterates, ignorant and poor.

“Whatever you tell them to do they will do it hook, line and sinker. So the government must provide  free education at certain levels to Nigerians to enable us live as human beings,” he said.

President Buhari had in his 61st Independence Day broadcast commended “the gallant men and women of the Military and Security Agencies” for making tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges in the last four months.

He also assured Nigerians that his administration had been ` `taking the fight to our enemies from all angles and we are winning”.

“Earlier this year, I launched the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, the Deep Blue Project, which is designed to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea.

“I am happy to inform Nigerians that we have taken delivery of key assets for this project and very soon, its impact will be felt,” he said.

According to him, more that over 8,000 Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered in the North East Region alone.

“To support our surge approach to fighting banditry, the Nigerian Armed Forces have recruited over 17,000 personnel across all ranks.

“Furthermore, I have also approved for the Nigerian Police Force to recruit 10,000 police officers annually over the next six years.

“I am also pleased to note that most of the Air Force platforms we acquired over the past three years have started to arrive in Nigeria.

“These will positively impact our security operations in all parts of the country,” President Buhari said.

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