A VOTE FOR A NON-MILITARY NSA
Nigeria needs an NSA who possesses expertise in statecraft, public policy, internal security, and law enforcement, argues
With President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure coming to a close next week, discussions regarding the composition of WKH QH[W JRYHUQPHQW KDYH JDLQHG VLJQLÀFDQW DWWHQWLRQ $PRQJ WKH RFHV WKDW KDYH VSDUNHG LQWHQVH GHEDWHV LV WKH 2FH RI WKH National Security Adviser (ONSA), and understandably so. The militarization of this RFH SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ D GHPRFUDWLF VHWWLQJ has raised curiosity among Nigerians. This FXULRVLW\ KDV LQWHQVLÀHG DV WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI having a non-military NSA has emerged as a prominent topic of discussion.
But the idea of a non-military NSA isn’t VRPH ÀJPHQW RI D FLWL]HQ·V LPDJLQDWLRQ even though not many Nigerians are aware that policemen had been in control of ONSA. Under the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, Gambo Jimeta, a former Inspector-General of Police, served as the NSA. Aliyu Isma’ila Gwarzo, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), served under both civilian and PLOLWDU\ OHDGHUVKLS ÀUVW XQGHU &KLHI (UQHVW Shonekan and then General Sani Abacha. Their essence was their understanding of the intricate relationship between the civilian and military spheres, and they stood out due to their recognition of the diverse range of challenges that undermined national security, necessitating solutions encompassing economic, psychological, and social factors.
The NSA is a direct link between the president and the people. He’s the president’s eyes, and the National Security Agencies Act of 1986 undermined that. The Act dissolved the Nigerian Security Organisation and established, in its place, three security agencies—the Defence Intelligence Agency, the National Intelligence Agency, and the State Security Service, granting the President WKH DXWKRULW\ WR DSSRLQW D &RRUGLQDWRU on National Security and transferring the IXQFWLRQV RI WKH &RRUGLQDWRU WR WKH 1DWLRQDO Security Adviser.
Nigerians are right to be interested in who becomes the next NSA, knowing that the nation’s current biggest threats aren’t external aggressions. Nigerians are at the mercy of internal security collapses that require much more than bigger guns to dispel. The country needs big brains and ideas to establish the FDXVHV RI WKH FRQÁLFWV DQG JHW WKH SUHVLGHQW WR approve solutions that aren’t akin to pouring water into a basket.
American policymakers and security specialists, whose style of democracy we practice, have always known this cheat code for preserving their national security. It’s unsurprising that they have, in the role of National Security Advisor, a Yaletrained civilian lawyer, Jake Sullivan. His predecessor too was a political scientistturned-lawyer. The role has successively been held by civilians with a nuanced and intellectual understanding of the complex realities that undermine national security, DQG WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKHP DQG XV LV clear. practice of appointing non-military security insiders and analysts is a tested cheat code. ,Q (J\SW )DL]D $ERX HO 1DJD VHUYHG DV a minister of planning and international cooperation under Hosni Mubarak before she became National Security Advisor under 3UHVLGHQW $EGHO )DWWDK HO 6LVL DQG LW GLGQ·W matter that her principal had even risen to the topmost position in the military and had even served as minister of defense and KHDGHG (J\SW·V PLOLWDU\ LQWHOOLJHQFH
7KH FKRLFH RI DQ 16$ VKRXOG UHÁHFW WKH realities of a country, and it makes sense to settle for one with an understanding of the socio-cultural and political determinants of FRQÁLFWV LQ FRXQWULHV XQGHUPLQHG E\ LQWHUQDO security. An NSA isn’t a combatant. Their power is the ability to analyze trends and intelligence to predict the state of security in the nation, and this requires intellectual and sociological sophistication to achieve.
The NSA doesn’t only sit on a trove of intelligence; they oversee the intelligence activities of the agencies listed in their (VWDEOLVKPHQW $FW 7KLV LV ZK\ VXFFHVVLYH presidents prefer an NSA whose unwavering patriotism is unquestionable and who possesses a deep understanding of the nation’s internal security challenges. But unless we move away from excessive militarization of the NSA—especially in a country where the military is reduced to taking responsibilities under the jurisdiction RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 3ROLFH )RUFH³WKLV UROH LV going to remain under-utilized.
The proponents of military control over ONSA have failed to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. The fact that Nigeria’s security challenges haven’t yielded the expected results shows that there is an immediate need for a change in the rules of engagement, and it’s reassuring that Nigerians have reached a point where they see the wisdom of having a non-military NSA.
:KHWKHU ZH H[DPLQH WKH LQHͿHFWLYHQHVV of military solutions to our national security challenges or the allegations of corruption prevalent within the military establishment, LW LV HYLGHQW WKDW 1LJHULD ÀQGV LWVHOI LQ extraordinary security circumstances that demand unconventional measures. It requires a highly experienced and versatile individual from outside the military to rescue ONSA from internal conspiracies.
In August 2020, a coalition of civil society RUJDQL]DWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ WKH $IULFDQ &HQWUH for Good Governance, Social Justice and Regional Security Initiative, and People United for Peace, Security, and Democracy in Nigeria, advocated for the appointment of a non-military NSA. They argued that Nigeria needs an NSA who possesses expertise in statecraft, public policy, internal security, and law enforcement to transform the negative security narrative of the country. They further emphasized that the practice of appointing NSAs exclusively from a military background neglects the fact that the military represents only a fraction of the country’s population. Shifting this paradigm and appointing an NSA from the civilian majority is essential.
Undoubtedly, the Nigerian military has been stretched thin and forced to assume the role of the police, particularly in addressing internal security issues. This mindset needs WR FKDQJH LI ZH DUH WR HͿHFWLYHO\ DOORFDWH our military and paramilitary resources. )RUWXQDWHO\ WKH QH[W OHDGHUV RI 1LJHULD Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, are both civilians who have successfully implemented security interventions during their time as governors.
)RU LQVWDQFH 7LQXEX HVWDEOLVKHG LQQRYDWLYH initiatives such as the Lagos Rapid Response 6TXDG ZKLFK VLJQLÀFDQWO\ UHGXFHG FULPH in Lagos State. Shettima, on the other hand, utilized civilian vigilante networks to combat crime and terrorist attacks in Borno State. Their accomplishments demonstrate that HYHQ D VHDVRQHG PLOLWDU\ OHDGHU FDQQRW À[ D system intentionally designed to achieve the people’s desired objectives but has instead become a breeding ground for public sector corruption. What Nigeria truly needs is a bold visionary who can disrupt the culture RI ZDU SURÀWHHULQJ DQG VHOI VHUYLQJ DJHQGDV 'HPLOLWDUL]LQJ 216$ LV WKH ÀUVW SUDJPDWLF step forward in this direction.
An NSA isn’t a combatant. Their power is the ability to analyze trends and intelligence to predict the state of security in the nation, and this requires intellectual and sociological sophistication to achieve