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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Interagency Rivalry Fuelling Nigeria’s Insecurity, NSCDC Commandant Declares

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Interagency rivalry and a lack of seamless cooperation among security institutions are hindering Nigeria's efforts to combat insecurity, according to the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Olusola Odumosu.
  • Odumosu stated that no single agency possesses all the necessary capacity or expertise to address Nigeria's multifaceted threats, emphasizing the need for a united front.
  • Security experts and government officials called for greater synergy among agencies, with the Senate Committee on Interior Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, advocating for mandatory intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.

Interagency rivalry and a failure of security institutions to cooperate effectively are undermining Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, warned Dr. Olusola Odumosu, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

No one agency has it all. There is a need for a united front because security is not what one agency can do.

— Dr. Olusola OdumosuThe FCT Commandant of the NSCDC explained why a unified approach is necessary to tackle Nigeria's security challenges.

Odumosu issued this warning in Abuja at the launch of his book, ‘Nigeria’s Security Dilemma: Rivalries and Implications, Vol. 1.’ He argued that no single security organization has a monopoly on wisdom or the capacity to tackle Nigeria's complex security challenges alone. "No one agency has it all. There is a need for a united front because security is not what one agency can do," Odumosu stated, identifying institutional rivalries and a lack of coordinated action as major obstacles.

Security experts and government officials present at the book launch unanimously called for enhanced synergy among security agencies. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, stressed that national security must transcend institutional ego and political affiliations. "When it comes to security, there is no PDP, no APC. We need to understand that," he said, advocating for mandatory intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.

When it comes to security, there is no PDP, no APC. We need to understand that.

— Senator Adams OshiomholeThe Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior emphasized the need to set aside political differences for national security.

Oshiomhole highlighted the importance of intelligence-led operations, recalling past successes in arresting kidnappers and criminals through military firepower. However, he expressed concern that some operations were frustrated when suspects were released despite significant efforts. The Minister of Defence, represented by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (rtd), acknowledged the challenges of interagency competition and assured that efforts are underway to improve collaboration, stating, "The stability of Nigeria is more important than the ego of any agency."

The stability of Nigeria is more important than the ego of any agency.

— Minister of Defence (represented)The representative of the Minister of Defence acknowledged interagency competition and stressed the priority of national stability.
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Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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