The Regional Security Idea

Insecurity in Nigeria will continue to trigger state responses to solving them. The reasons for these are not far-fetched. As security challenges in the country worsen, Federal and State governments seem to be seeking new solutions to the new dynamics of insecurity nationwide. There seems to be much ado about the idea of regional security outfits across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Arguably, the reluctance of the Federal government to give a nod to state police appear to have birthed the idea of the regional informal security outfits. For instance, the South-west geo-political zone has formed a regional security structure code-named ‘Amotekun’. Operation Amotekun is the South-west response to rising security issues in the region to complement the efforts of the overstretched formal security agencies operating in the area. From news reports, Operation Amotekun has aided in the arrest of armed robbers and illegal miners in the region. Although a push back from some quarters resulted in each southwestern state adopting the outfit individually, the truth remains that they share the same template and collaborate extensively.

Other regions are now toeing the South-west line. Five months ago, governors of the Middle belt considered the Amotekun example in the region. The region has witnessed tremendous clashes between pastoralists and farming communities, armed banditry and other security issues. Also, the South-south governors forum has pledged to set up a regional security outfit and revive the BRACED Commission to tackle developmental issues. The BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta states) Commission is a regional development body in the region focused on engendering development in the region. The South-east governors are equally poised to establish a regional security outfit in the area. The forest guards outfits established by Enugu state is of interest to Anambra state. Considering the rates of renewed kidnappings and attacks in some rural communities in the South-east, the establishment of a similar organisation will occur sooner than later. In the North-west region that has been rampaged by armed banditry, there have been calls by security experts for a regional security structure that will complement the efforts of formal security operatives in addressing the menace of banditry in the area. As much ado trail regional security outfits, there are many issues to consider.

First, Nigeria has a proliferation of quasi-security organisations with different state governments’ administrations establishing its idea of the security organisation. Proposing states in the region clamouring for regional security organisations should put this into perspective. The existing quasi-security organisations should be either be tactfully disarmed, demobilised and reintegrated back to society or they should be incorporated into the new regional security structure. Intending state governments should also contract security experts to map out a comprehensive policy, rules and regulations that will guide the activities of the security organisation. The effectiveness of the regional security outfit largely depends on the knowledge and expertise behind its establishment.

Second, the regional security outfits should have an organisational structure that can be held accountable. Accountability measures will ensure that the organisation acts by the state assembly laws establishing it and resources budgeted for its operations are effectively utilised. Arguably, corruption and lack of accountability contribute to the inability of Nigeria\’s formal security organisations to live up to their statutory expectations. State governments with the help of security policy experts should conscientiously go through the details of the intended security organisation to ensure that they do not recreate yet another security agency that is incapable of addressing security issues in the area.

Thirdly, state governments should also factor in sources of funding for the security organisation. Lack of adequate funds will inhibit the performance of the organisation no matter how solid and thorough its establishing documents are. Also, insufficient funding may affect payment of salaries, provision of weaponry and other devices that aid securitisation. It may also lead to a slippery slope where members of the security organisation result in other illegal means for sustenance and survival. According to Transparency International (IT), a leading global non-governmental anti-corruption organisation, Nigeria spends an estimate of N241.2 billion annually on security votes. The amount is 12 times the UK Counterterrorism support promised between 2016 to 2020 at N19.2 billion and 9 times the US security assistance to Nigeria since 2012. The unaccounted security votes should be used to fund the regional security organisations being set up by different regions. In light of the foregoing, regional security outfits will only achieve its objective of addressing inherent security issues in the regions establishing them if only state governments commit to due diligence, strict accountability and transparency measures.