Reactivity Vs Proactivity: Nigeria's Security Dilemma

20/01/2012

Nigeria's level of insecurity has heightened concerns within and outside the country which compels a rethinking of the government's approach to the National Security agenda.
 
Insecurity in Nigeria has assumed an alarming rate that it requires deeper reflections on how to confront the menace. The threats to security at this stage are obviously 'real' and not perceived or imagined needing a constructive and proactive approach. National security (collective security) as the construct connotes, has since gone beyond government or regime security.
 
The threats to national security are widespread ranging from economic, social, political and humanitarian. However, it appears events in the past and more recently are geared towards discrediting the present administration as enfeebled to promote confidence in security of lives and properties or contain insecurity in Nigeria.
 
In the process of deeper reflection therefore, the administration should consider a clear departure from the usual past government REACTIONS and focus more on PROACTION. This would invariably reduce the effect of the sustained militarized society under democratic governance. The recent United Nations Security Council Special Report on West Africa also identified four major emerging security threats including, drug trafficking and organized crime; terrorism; challenges to democratic governance; and piracy. These threats to Nigeria's security in particular are not only emerging, they are assuming new dynamics of delivery.

More | ArticlesBase