Appraising Buhari’s feat in security sector (I)

One area the President Muhammady Buhari’s Government is known to have made significant achievements in the last two years is in the security sector. This is notwithstanding the resurgence and persistence of isolated cases of kidnapping and clashes between herdsmen and communities in parts of the country. It is important when taking stock of the achievements of the Government in the security sector the challenges at the time it took over is appreciated. It is common knowledge that, the country was contending with a motley of security challenges at the time the present Government took over. The major security challenges included, the insurgency in the North East, militancy and destruction of critical oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta and the near collapse of security in the Maritime sector. The other potent threats to National security were aggravation of tension as the result of mounting calls for fiscal federalism and restructuring.

There is no doubt that the containing of the insurgency in the North East is by far the most significant achievement of the present government in the last two years. It will be recalled that, at the time the present Government took over in 2015 substantial part of the North East was under the occupation of rampaging insurgents. Schools, markets and communities were wantonly attacked. There was also the forced displacement of the impacted communities. Some authorities have estimated that between three to four million people were displaced by the insurgents in the North East. Schools were closed for over two years in the region particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. Socio economic activities was grounded to a halt. Lost of lives as a result of the activities of the insurgents was unprecedented. Thousands of people were killed through attacks on communities and suicide bombings. Other security related challenges were the poorly equipped soldiers who were deployed to fight the insurgents. The morale of the soldiers was at its lowest ebb. Desertion at the battle front was widespread. The extent to which the present Government has reversed this unfortunate situation is an important yardstick for measuring the successes of the Government in the last two years. The Government has effectively contained the menace of the insurgents in the North East in the last two years.

The interdiction of other forms of terrorist plans is another area the Government has done exceptionally well in. The success of the government and the security agencies in this area has apparently gone unnoticed. It is worthy to note that, security agencies in the country have prevented many terrorist plans, and interdicted dangerous persons with international terrorist links from having a foothold in the country in the last two years. The success in this area can be measured by the successes of the security services in frustrating plans by Alqueda and ISIS sympathizers to establish a foothold in the country. This feat has attracted commendation from even USA Government. Ironically, the huge successes recorded by the security agencies especially the SSS in this area is not to the knowledge of the Nigerian public.

The successful managing of some post insurgency challenges is another area the Buhari Government can be scored high in. Some knowledgable authorities have claimed the level of destruction by the insurgency in the North far outstrips the damage in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. The magnitude of the destruction unleashed by the insurgency on the sub-region is huge. President Muhammadu Buhari Government was forced to contend with these challenges. Gladly, the present Government despite the enormity of the challenges has restored reasonable level of normalcy. The insurgency has been contained and decimated. What is being contended with at the moment are desperate attempts by the defeated insurgents to remain relevant. This is very much expected. Communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States previously occupied by insurgents have been liberated. Thousands of people held hostage by the insurgents have been freed. Several communities rendered inaccessible by the insurgents have been freed and the areas opened up. The government is also frontally dealing with the humanitarian challenges facing the sub-region. Relief material is being provided the people. Plans are also underway to rebuild destroyed infrastructure in the area. The Government currently is driving rehabilitation efforts in the sub-region through the Presidential Initiative On The North East (PINE). The Bill for the establishment of North East Development Commission is also receiving attention. The Government has definitely kept faith with the president’s promise to rehabilitate the North East. The present Government and its various agencies definitely deserves commendation for the achievements so far recorded.

Other related areas of noticeable achievement of the present government in the security sector is the successful negotiation and release of the abducted Chibok girls. Many people are not aware that this feat required unprecedented commitment on the part of the Government. The expertise of experienced diplomats and negotiators were brought to bear. The security agencies especially the DSS also played a very significant role in the process. This expectedly was devoid of fanfare and was professionally handled. Credit must be given the present Government in securing the release of the Chibok girls as the incident was previously badly managed. Much nevertheless still needs to be done in the area of those being held especially the remaining Chibok girls.

The return of normalcy to the Niger Delta is without doubt another major achievement of the present government in the security sector in the last two years. Credit must be given the President for opting for a non military approach to resolving the Niger Delta crisis. The Federal Government has reached out to critical stakeholders and engaged them in dialogue over the issue. The Amnesty office of the Presidential Adviser on the Nigeria Delta has also recorded huge successes in complementing the programmes of the Government being executed through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of the Niger Delta. It is also to the credit of the President and the Federal Government that the level of militancy and destruction of oil and gas installations, as well as, theft of crude oil has been drastically reduced. The military and the security Agencies deserve to be commended for effectively managing the restiveness in the region. The same strategy need to be deployed in the burgeoning restiveness in the South East.

Achievements in the security sector in the Niger Delta are critical parts of the successes of the present Government in the general security outlook. Today, the destruction of oil and has installations, as well as, the theft of crude oil has been substantially reduced. So also is, the influx of dangerous weapons through the coastal waters. Informed sources in the National Security Establishment believe maritime security at the time the present Government took over was at the verge of collapsing. The situation was been reversed through the gallant efforts of Nigerian Navy and other security services. Efforts by the present Government to reposition maritime security therefore deserves to be commended.

One of the parameters for measuring the successes or otherwise of a Government in providing security is the ability to secure its borders. Any security architecture that does not take this into consideration is flawed. The reason is simple. Border security is critical in keeping out material and people whose activities could be injuries to National Security. Strong border security measures are for example required to interdict illegal arms influx and the proliferation of dangerous weapons. It is from this perspective that, there are suggestions that even the menace of rampaging Fulani herdsmen should be approached through the ECOWAS instrumentalities and effective border control. It is gratifying to note that, the present Government has done so much by bringing to bear several multinational approaches in dealing with border related National Security challenges. The multinational Joint Task Force for example is helping to clear the Lake Chad Basin area of insurgents. The strengthening of the border controls through deployment of more personnel and provision of vehicular and airborne capabilities are proving to be useful. It is worthy of note that, this is the first time border security is being accorded attention as a national security priority. The Government should be commended for this posture, although much still needs to be done to secure our borders. To be continued A. A. Gadzama, OFR, mni, is a former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS)