Optimum Action on National Security

Security concerns in recent times have been at the frontline of discussions both on national and at the international level. Within the span of 10 years from year 2013 backwards, it has been observed that security issues of some nations in Africa has been tampered with which has drawn major outcry to international communities.

The question then goes thus, what are the causes of insecurity in nation states and states nation? What are the problems facilitating lacunae in nations security? And how can these problems be reduced to it barest minimum with the prospect of eradicating security threats if possible.

With regards to Africa, with Nigeria as a case study, it is no more news to hear militant terrorist attacks such as Jamā'aAhl al-sunnah li-da'wawa al-jihād, better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram meaning, "Western education is sinful". These militant group, unleash untold carnage to the people unawares while trying to drive their demands to the government and adopting guerrilla tactics. There are also other vices such as kidnapping, communal violence, political assassination, electoral violence and other emerging trends with observed indications that manifest at different platforms which are yet to be fully activated.

In buttressing these points, Albert (2004) on security challenges in contemporary Nigeria, stated that: "One issue on which Nigerians are in agreement is that their nation is going through a period of unprecedented security challenges’. However, there is a lack of consensus on how to deal with the problems. Hence, the harms done degenerate. The extent and geographical spread of these conflicts was graphically illustrated by the General Officer Commanding the Second Mechanised Division, Ibadan, Major- General Muhammad Abubakar, in Osogbo on 6 August 2912 during the launch of a new security outfit for the state, Swift Action Squad (SAS). He observed that the military directly supports the police in security operations in 33 states of the federation. This is a worrisome revelation as it readily suggests that the nation is under siege and that the police no longer have the capacity to deal with the rising insecurity in the land."

Recently, the Ombatse conflict in Nasarawa Nigeria has not only disrupted human activities and the peace loving environment, but has also overwhelm the police after many officers died trying to curtail the conflicts. Thus, it has attracted the deployment of Nigerian Army to dowse tensions in the hostile zones which is still ongoing.

Nevertheless, these security lapses are not limited to Nigeria but also seen in other African states at different gradient. Furthermore, Gangal (2007) on Mahatma Gandhi's Concept of Global Security and peace pointed out that "Until there is widespread voluntary effort towards conflict-transformation by individuals and states alike, the cities of the world will not have rest from armed conflicts, wars and mass murders. Weapons cannot provide security". The questions we are left with on these premises about security issues, is where did we get it wrong?

While trying to stress the point of insecurity in Nigeria, more of its kinds tend to manifest. Tensions are building up on the presidential election that will hold next year (2014) with disintegration, merging and crisis of political parties. With so much focus on the presidential election and neglect of so many sector of the government, problems have great toll on the nation security which abound. Such as incessant civil disobedience and protest by different arms of the government and tertiary institutions due to dissatisfaction on how the government pilot the affairs of the nation.

In the light of these problems, the youth are not left out. They have been told that they are future leaders when they were much younger at the Nursery and primary schools, but alas! Those who were in power during these hypnotic assertions are still struggling for post to become presidents and governors while the youths are languishing in the streets without jobs. Little wonder, will you see that negative attributes attached to Nigerian youths as Top list on cybercrime and other vices which happen to be a means to survive otherwise known as survival of the fittest. Therefore, this also affects international communities in relations with Nigerians.

In the midst of all these problems, it should be known that, isolation and inadequate response towards security challenges of African Nations also affect the international community. In the spirit of Ubuntu which is a concept from Africa known as human kindness there is the need to address security issues starting with our inner self by stopping corruption and building a better world. Thus, it is said, “The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself” Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882. 

References

Issac Olawale Albert (ND). "Explaining the security challenges in contemporary Nigeria." Institute of African Studies. University of Ibadan. Nigeria.

Gangal (2007) Mahatma Gandhi's Concept of Global Security and peace. Department of Political Science. University of Jammu. India.