Government Security Agencies In Nigeria

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Government security agencies are state security institutions established to carry out public security functions. They are charged with responsibility of ensuring public laws and orders, maintain peace and security. To enforce public rules and regulations in the best interest of the public, and to promote human right of the citizenry. This is an all-important responsibility of government. Accordingly, the primary responsibility of any government is the safety and security of her people. The origin of modern state characterized by social contract which emphasized freedom and equality; also, implicitly underscored that civil state must provide safety and security to the populace to guarantee its continued relevance and avoid relapse to state of nature. To meet this demand, government must create, fund, and manage various (as deemed necessary per time) agencies to secure the sovereignty and internal concerns of the state. Nigeria has laudably taken bold steps and created for public law and order, various institutions, agencies and bodies for safety and security of the people. In the land, in the water bodies, in the airspace and other internal concerns relevance to security; the government have them covered. See below, highlight of the agencies and their areas of responsibilities. While some of them are core security agencies, others are quasi-agencies playing complimentary role for public law and order. Some others are playing roles that include collection of revenue for the government. Nigeria Police Force – NPF: is the principal law enforcement agency in the country. Its main responsibilities include preserving law and order, prevention and detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, protection of lives and properties amongst others. Its origin dates back from 1861 to 1930 when it became the national Police Force. Nigerian Army – NA: is the land-based Nigerian Armed Force charged with the responsibilities of preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country and protect it from all forms external aggression and internal insurrection amongst others. Its origin dates back to 1800s from West African Frontier Force (WAFF). Nigerian Navy – NN: also, a member of the Nigerian Armed Force has security responsibilities which include protecting the country from water front against external aggression and internal insurrection. Its origin dates back to 1956. Nigerian Air Force – NAF: is the air wing of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Its origin was from 1962. Its main duties include to provide air support to ground and sea Nigerian military, and preserve the territorial integrity of the country. Nigerian Customs Service – NCS: was established from 1922. Its duties include collecting and accounting for customs duties and excise, administration of trade and fiscal policies of government, and promoting trade facilitation. Nigerian Immigration Service – NIS: is charged with the responsibility of migration management. it originated from Nigeria Police Force in 1958. Federal Road Safety Corp – FRSC: was founded in 1988. Its duties include preventing accidents on highways, clearing obstruction (unsafe condition) on highways, designing and producing national driver license and vehicle plat numbers. State Security Service – SSS: also, known as Department of State Security (DSS) was part of former National Security Organization which was unbundled in 1986. Its main duties include prevention and detection of crime against the internal security of Nigeria, protection and preservation of all non-military classified matters concerning the internal security of Nigeria. Nigerian Intelligence Agency – NIA: was previously part of former National security Organization, unbundled in 1986. Its responsibilities include general security of Nigeria with focus on outside Nigeria. Defense Intelligence Agency – DIA: had its origin from former National Security Organization which was unbundled in 1986. Its main duties include prevention and detection of crime of military nature against Nigeria, protection and preservation of all military classified matters. Nigerian Correctional Service – NCoS: established in 1872, their functions include to take inmates into lawful custody, produce same in court when it is required, initiate training and reform for inmates, administer prison farms & industry. Nigerian Security & Civil Defense Corp: origin dates back from 1970 to 2003. Their main duties include to assist in maintenance of peace and order, safeguard national infrastructure, respond and rescue civil populace during national emergency, certify, approve and supervise private security guard companies. Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit – NFIU: was established in 2004 under Central Bank of Nigeria. Its mandate is to work with, and provide credible intelligence to law enforcement and other regulatory agencies in the fight against money laundry and other related crimes. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency – NDLEA: was created in 1989. It is in charge of drug policy and control in Nigeria. Economic and Financial Crime Commission – EFCC: was created in 20024. The main duties include investigation of financial crimes, money laundry, contract scam, advance fee fraud, enforcement of all economic and financial crime laws in Nigeria, and prosecution of offenders. Nigerian Quarantine and Agricultural Service – NAQS: is an agency under the ministry of agriculture and food security. It is responsible for the prevention, entry and establishment and spread of foreign pests and diseases of plants and animals in the country. National Agency for the Prohibition and Trafficking in Person – NAPTIP: was created in 2003. It has mission to protect all persons against human trafficking. Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission – ICPC: was established in year 2000 to fight corruption, receive complaints about corruption, investigate and prosecute offenders. Note, that all government security agencies described above were duly and lawfully established by Acts of National Assembly. Their powers and authorities were derived from these Acts, as such they operate as legal entity for government law enforcement. ALSO READ: YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA

How To Promote Food Security Through Security In Nigeria

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Food security is a mandatory requirement if humanity must sustain its existence on earth. Its absence is a serious threats to life. Food and Agricultural Organization stated that food security exist when all people, at all times have unhindered access to sufficient safe and nutritious foods that meet their daily dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Central to this paraphrased definition of food security are food availability and access, food utilization and stability. These components must consistently interact to sustain and guarantee food security in any society. Besides climate change, Nigeria with a population of above two hundred million people has been facing challenges in food security over a decade. These challenges pose threat to growing a physical and mentally healthy people. Note, food is central to overall growth and development of human.  It is reported, in Q1, 2024 that about one hundred million people are food-insecure in Nigeria. It is also estimated, that about 16% of Nigerians will face severe food insecurity by June 2024. The identified key threats to food security in Nigeria include increasing insecurity in the northern parts which serve as food hub, continued conflict between farmers and herders, climate change, inflation and rising food costs occasion by unstable forex market. This menace is no doubt impacting on all four important aspects of food security highlighted above. It is noteworthy, to submit that, the most significant factor which has negative impact on Nigeria’s food security lately have become banditry, kidnapping, terrorism which are mostly pronounced in the entire northern region. Farm crops are destroyed by herds intentionally unleashed by herders; fires (arson) intentionally set by bandits. Farmers are kidnapped for ransom, taxed and levied by occupier bandits, chased out of the towns/farms for outright take-over by invading terrorists groups. Crops are also seized by these criminal groups. Given above-described scenario, it is arguable to conclude that the main source of threat to food security in Nigeria is insecurity. What is the way forward? To attain standard food security in any society oftentimes requires multi-dimensional approach that must include safety and security of the farm and the farmers. This piece shall make recommendations specific to security. These include; Rejig current security approach: national security has not fared well in recent time. Since resurgence of boko-haram terrorist group, other terror and bandit groups have emerged. Their continued existence, successful attacks, coercive dominance and expansion have proved one thing – whatever Nigeria is currently doing to curb, curtail, minimize and/or prevent the monster of insecurity is not working well. Most disturbing is the proliferation of lite arms and ammunitions which are the major tools/enabler of insecurity. Governments, especially at the centre must prioritize national security, and specifically human security.  Whatever it takes to protect lives and properties of the citizenry should take centre stage. Using the same security approach and system of 19th century to tackle security challenges of 20th century is not the way to go. Security is evolving, so should its management. Establish designated forest ranger: it is high time Nigeria considered establishing well functional forest rangers – a law enforcement agency solely dedicated to protecting the ungoverned space. If advanced economies of the West should have forest rangers, one wonders why a developing state confronting multi-faceted security threats should not go the way. Creating a unit within existing agency to tackle forest security threats is a good starting point, however having a separate agency charged with sole responsibility of guarding the forests in collaboration with others will most likely produce better outcome. Establish ministry of rural security: contemporary criminality has gone rural. The criminals have studied and understood that the rural society is not receiving fair security attention. The rural communities have very insignificance presence of gate-keepers. The hub of farming in Nigeria is in rural areas. To drive its adequate security will require a dedicated ministry of rural security to coordinate how this countryside should be protected. Have stringent punitive measures for agro-based criminality: while it is said that poverty defiles consequences – meaning that a hungry man is an angry man who can dare anything regardless of consequences. We cannot rule out the effect of punitive approach in conditioning or controlling human behaviors.  Punishment for crimes against food security must be proportionate with the intent of such criminals. A criminal who intentionally destroys farm crops, kidnap and kill farmers has intent to starve the nation to death; as such is a serious threat to national security and must be treated with equal or more stiff sanction. To a significant extend, punitive measures deter criminality. ALSO READ: Climate Change In Nigeria And Its Remarkable Impact In Agriculture