Experts advocate data use, policy reform to tackle insecurity in Nigeria

Security experts in the country have identified data collation and usage as necessary tool to tackle insecurity in the country, while calling for a reform of policies in the sector.

The pundits spoke yesterday at Securex West Africa Conference in Lagos.
 
Chief Executive Officer, Halogen Security Company, Mr. Wale Olaoye, urged government to enable a holistic review of policy and reforms across the entire national security framework.

But Senior Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Mr. Aliyu Gebi, called for a re-write of the national security strategy, to create a new national safety policy, to address insecurity in the country.

Chief Executive Officer, Beacon Consulting, Mr. Kabir Adamu, suggested that the country should deploy data gathering tools to enhance security.

Although security challenges in the country are peculiar across the states, according to the Head of Research, SBM Intelligence, Mr. Cheta Nwanze, Nigeria is still using the 19th century mindset to tackle insecurity, hence the need to re-strategise.

For former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, Nigeria needs a cultural change in terms of legislation and leadership to tackle security issues.

Also, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investments, Prof. Ademola Abass, said that “adequate security is needed” for stability in the country.

Abass added that whatever security strategy being planned must align with the policies available in the country.

At the event, the United States Consul General in Lagos, Mr. John Bray, assured that his country would collaborate with Nigeria to achieve prosperity, but noted the need to focus on economic stability.

According to him, the security of a nation is good, but government needs to take its eyes off security and focus on the stability of the economy.

To achieve national stability, he said it behooves the leadership to provide the amenities that its people need to survive.

His words: “Security in Nigeria is an important topic, but in discussing this, there is need to look at the stability of the economy.

“The key security issues relevant to Nigeria have to do with stability, and to achieve security, one needs to look at the economic challenges, the unprecedented population growth, the lack of amenities like power and others. These factors and poor economic output will have a negative impact on the stability of the country and also lead to unrest, if not well managed.”