National Security: DHQ Calls for New Intelligence Policy

Paul Obi

Following the increasing threat to national security, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday called for a new intelligence policy that will address current security challenges in the country.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, explained that the need for a new intelligence policy has become imperative given new cases of terrorism and militancy in Nigeria.

According to him, the DHQ and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) must create the synergy for capacity building in the areas of security and intelligence matters.

The CDS stated this when participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 10 of the ISS visited the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Olonisakin said: “With the current rate of insecurity facing the country, threat analysis requires comprehensive knowledge and the need to chart a new intelligence policy to meet up with the current realities.”

He added that “with the array of faculties in the institute, ISS is doing a lot to improve the knowledge of intelligence gathering of the participants which could impact positively in the ongoing war on insurgency and other allied criminalities in the country.”

The CDS who was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Saidu, stressed that “the strategic part of the ISS curriculum is very commendable and strategic to intelligence gathering.

He expressed satisfaction with the array of participants from various security agencies and regulatory bodies, stating that, “the inclusion of various government agencies gives room for cross fertilisation of ideas and collaborations.”

Speaking, the Director, ISS, Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, explained that the choice of Defence Headquarters was in recognition of the military’s tremendous contributions to national security and nation building.

Seiyefa further stated that “the rising threat profile in the country can only be checkmated if the intelligence community synergise with strategic security agencies like Defence Headquarters to understand the operations and strategic interplays in the interest of national security.”

Highlights of the visit included a presentation on the roles and operational organisation of the DHQ as well as various military operations being