The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says that the role of research in the enhancement of internal security can not be overemphasised.
The Minister said this during the launch of 12 security books co-authored by the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, OFR and the Academy President of International Academy for Gender and Peace, Prof Tyoor Therhemba on at the Corps National Headquarters, Abuja.
He said that it was important for security personnel to be properly trained based on research peculiar to time and security threats.
“The battle is more ideological than physical, superior knowledge makes it ideological which comes from a place of learning.
“The bad guys should be running to catch up with the pace of the state and we can only achieve this in the era of intellectualism,” he said.
He further said that he will ensure all agencies under the Ministry, establish a functional library to foster educational growth and service delivery.
Tunji-Ojo said that the Ministry will set up a team of professionals to provide technical advisory services.
He said that the team, tagged Paramilitary Brain Trust (PBT), will consist of intellectuals such as retired senior officers and professors and will be given research topics to tackle depending on peculiar security situations.
While addressing personnel, he said that the era of promotion just by writing exams might be over soon.
He said that the promotion of officers and men of paramilitary agencies will be a result of evaluation parameters.
“You don’t need to be a CG to be celebrated, in your private corner, give and do your best and know that one day that little effort of yours might be what is needed to turn this country around.
“Ability to cast problems and preorder solutions is what leadership is about,” he said.
The Minister expressed satisfaction at the level of performance and capacity of the NSCDC boss, adding that the ability to turn threats into opportunities is what distinguishes successful people from others as displayed by Audi.
“I assure you that NSCDC is doing well, we can do better and will do better as there are lots of reforms we are working on,” the Minister said.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in his keynote address congratulated the CG for the efforts put into the books towards solving our security threats.
The NSA, represented by Major General AG Laka, called for improved synergy among all the security organisations. He assured the populace that a safe and peaceful Nigeria is sacrosanct and non-negotiable, hence, all hands must be on deck to respond to emerging security threats,
Dr Audi earlier in his remarks said that Nigeria’s struggle for independence, post-colonialism, slavery, and Cold War amongst other situations had affected Nigeria’s security landscape in a peculiar way, leading to emerging security threats such as terrorism, and cyber crimes.
“Alongside organised trans-border crimes which have over time intertwined and confounded the nation’s security situation.
According to him, to tackle Nigeria’s security threats, adequate research and institutionalisation of programmes that aim to provide solutions to these threats must be prioritised.
Audi said that one of the researches carried out revealed that no kidnap occurred without the involvement of an insider, hence the need for more such research.
He enjoined citizens to reflect on what they can do for the country and not just what the country can do for its citizens.
The NSCDC boss however frowned at the absence of indigenous instructional materials to adequately guide security studies in line with peculiar security threats faced by Nigeria.
He said that the books were aimed at promoting national security, identifying security bridges, proffer recommendations, contributing to policy, studies and knowledge of security.
“The 12 books are titled; Civil Defence and Military under the Geneva Conventions, Critical Dictates of International Humanitarian Law and the Development of the Civil Defence, Readings on Nigeria’s National Security.
“Peace, Conflict and Human Security in Africa, International Cooperation Against Trafficking in Persons, Terrorism and Threat to Food Security in Lake Chad Region, amongst other publications,” Audi listed.
