The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Thursday said only technology can address the various security challenges facing Nigeria.
Speaking at the 5th monthly policy dialogue organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Policy Development & Analysis in Abuja, the minister stated that Nigeria is dealing with adversaries that have no regard for rule of engagement.
Aregbesola, who spoke through Deputy Commander, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ibitoye Oluyemi, said while it is true that Nigeria needs more man power to fight insecurity, the ministry will liaise with other security agencies, including credible registered private security agencies to provide intelligence on insurgents.
Representative of the Commandant General NSCDC, Engineer Jonathan Iyogho, remarked that the 5th monthly policy dialogue with the theme, “Nigeria security challenges and the way forward,” was timely and very good as one of the channels of communication with the president.
He echoed the position of the minister that the solution to insecurity is technology. Jonathan added that the nation will also have to address the underlining factors responsible for the intractable security challenges facing the nation.
He said: “To ensure full security, Nigeria will have to deal with problems with our education, health and economic sector.”
A contributor, Dr Umar Yakubu, who made his comment virtually said the Nigerian land size is 2 million square kilometers and the nation lack the personnel to man it.
He said: “We just have to bring in technology to man unoccupied territory instead of risking the lives of our security agents.”
Another virtual contributor, Ghali Mohammed, advocated the need for Nigeria to liaise with nations versed in security matters with advanced security institutions to share information with Nigeria.
He said: “We just have to reach understanding with countries with international scientific apparatus to know the movement of people. They know who is coming in and who is going out of the country. But they can’t share such information with Nigeria except there is an understanding on how to work together. Countries such as Israel, Pakistan and Singapore can be of help to Nigeria.
“Secondly, Nigeria will have to identify those financing bandits and shame them publicly.”
Organiser of the dialogue, Ibrahim Bapatel Hassan, said: “The monthly policy dialogue is a platform created by the office of the Special Assistant to the President (Policy Development and Analysis) to facilitate interrogation and exchange of ideas on issues, policies and challenges affecting government or the citizens.
“Previous dialogues focused on themes such as government budget and budget financing, government communications strategies and the review of the border closure policy of the government. This is the fifth edition.”
It is expected that views by experts and other contributors would be forwarded to the president.
