Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has called for an adoption of American-style Department of Homeland Security as part of measures to tackle the nation’s security challenges.
General Abubakar made the remark at the inaugural lecture at the National Defence College yesterday in Abuja.
He said the department would be in charge of cyber and border security, aviation security, terrorism and emergency response.
He, however, added that “Nigeria’s comprehensive approach to national security challenges must be based on the ideology of the country’s national security challenges which is not similar to those of United States of America and Pakistan.”
In the lecture themed, “A comprehensive approach to National Security Management in Nigeria,” the former Head of State, said it was imperative that the national security management is reviewed.
He lamented that the traditional approach of deploying troops to crisis prone areas has not succeeded.
General Abubakar advocated for a comprehensive national security strategy aimed at integrating political, security and development, rule of law, human rights and humanitarian dimensions of state policies in providing security.
He stressed harmonized training for security operatives, adequate intelligence gathering and sharing of information amongst security agencies, a central or joint data base where all security agencies can supply and get information.
General Abubakar also recommended improved mutual trust, understanding and planning between security agencies, whilst calling for a robust use of security institutions and good governance tools to prevent conditions that leads to outbreak of crime and violence.
“The nature and pattern of outbreak of new and emerging threats in Nigeria suggest that security can no longer be achieved through reliance on the nation’s current approach to security…” he added.
Source: Daily Trust
