Weak, underfunded security cannot protect Nigeria —Dogara

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that weak and underfunded security agencies cannot live up to the task of protecting the country in the face of many security challenges.

Dogara who was speaking at the retreat of security related committees of the National Assembly and Security Agencies which held Saturday in Lagos, therefore called for improved welfare for security agencies.

The Speaker, who was represented by Babangida Ibrahim, Chairman, House Finance Committee, stated that the legislative agenda of the Eighth House prioritises national security, adding that oversight tours of security agencies have shown that funding of the sector is inadequate.

He further raised concerns about the low ratio of military personnel to civilian population, with Nigeria currently ranking at 152 out of 190 countries.

“The bodies directly responsible for the implementation of the programmes and activities relevant to our protection are the security agencies. The health of the security agencies is therefore very important, for no one can give what he does not have. Weak, underfunded, poorly manned, and ill trained security men cannot defend any nation or people.

“Our committees have been embarking on oversight tours of the security agencies. Some of the reports that we have received show that the investment we are making in the military, para military and other security agencies are clearly inadequate.

Secondly, a check on the ratio of security personnel to the civilian population clearly shows that we are well behind the recommendations of the United Nations. As a matter of fact, Nigeria sits uncomfortably on number 152 of the 190 states included in the index table,” he stated.

The Speaker drew attention to challenges such as terrorism and the presence of military personnel in most states of the federation, which are further compounding the problem of an existing deficit in critical security infrastructure.

“Despite our deficit in critical security infrastructure, the challenges facing the country are increasing; more fronts of challenges are opening.

‘The current world terrorism index, unfortunately for us, also says that two of the four deadliest terrorist organisations in the world are operating in Nigeria.

‘These challenges have resulted in the military having boots on the ground in at least 32 of the 36 states of the federation. The indications, unfortunately, are that these challenges may not easily or quickly abate.”

In a remark, the KAS Resident Representative, Mrs Hildegard Behrendit-Kigozi, described Nigeria as an important country, promising that the NGO was ready to contribute its quota to boost the security of its people.

She said that her organisation had been in the country since 15 years ago, working with many sectors, including the parliament, security and health for the good of the country.

Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali commended the House for its initiative to investigate pressing needs and thereby finding solutions to their legislative and budgetary needs.

Dan-Ali said that the agencies had been able to address some of the contemporary security challenges in the nation such as terrorism, kidnapping, farmers/herdsmen crisis, IPOB activities and ethno-religious crisis.

He noted that those challenges posed security threats not only to the nation but the West Africa sub-region and world at large.

“The governance, operations and activities of our security agencies concern and affect other nations and people outside our shores. It is therefore important that our security agencies adhere strictly to international best practice. The logic of a globalized and networked world is that nothing done is hidden or can be hidden forever. The age of drones and micro devices mean that, at any point, our actions and communications are being recorded.

The room for individuals to seek redress extend beyond the borders of nations. The commanding heights of our military, paramilitary and security forces must work to adhere to best standards through personal examples.”

“The mandate of the security agencies is to protect the lives of people. Human rights are all about the lives and dignity of people. The establishment laws of the security agencies in the USA and most of Europe have been amended to mainstream Human Rights.

It is therefore, important, going forward, that irrespective of the challenges, the security agencies need to add issues of human rights to the curriculum of their training schools.”

Dogara also urged all security agencies to imbibe the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation.

“I am delighted to see the Police, Airforce, Civil Defense and State Security Services top brass sitting and reasoning on the same table. This form of cooperation and understanding needs to be urgently taught and enforced at the tactical and operational levels. The sad stories of security agent using their guns on one another should no longer be tolerated.”