The Special Guest of Honour and Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has said that the launch of the 2019 National Security Strategy (NSS) by President Muhammadu Buhari shows his commitment to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
She stated this at a Two-Day National Security Seminar organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in collaboration with the Department of Political Science, University of Abuja on Thursday 19 December 2019 in Abuja.
She postulated that the theme of the seminar “Evaluating the National Security Challenges in Nigeria and the Way Forward’’ was apt given the security situation in the country. She added that, the seminar, which brought together critical stakeholders in the security division, would yield positive result in addressing the national security challenges.
She however, called for synergy and inter-agency collaboration among security agencies in terms of intelligence gathering and information sharing to ensure effective and optimal service delivery within security community.
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The minister commended the armed forces, police and other security agencies for their steadfastness and commitment in the discharge of their constitutional roles, urging them to do more. She expressed hope that the outcome of the seminar would produce result for new input to the national security architecture of the nation.
In his remark, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), said the seminar was important in providing lasting solution to the security challenges that are confronting the nation.
Buratai said that seminar was part of the numerous efforts in ensuring that major stakeholders continuously review the security situation and come up with modalities and steps to contain the developments.
According to him, issues of security must constantly be examined, analysed and solutions proffered in order to contain them due to the ever changing and transmuting nature of security challenges and threats.
“Such threats could emanate from within the system or externally generated but whichever be the case, we must be abreast and be proactive rather than reactive to any development.
“Earlier this month, the president launched the reviewed NSS and the provisions therein are preparing activities at the strategic level. “The majority of participants at this seminar are the practitioners who are to provide the appropriate input in line with the provision of the NSS at the operational as well as the tactical levels.
“It is therefore necessary to engage in this type of exercise as part of the process of understanding ourselves for better performance in the provision of security in the country. “Understanding the trends and limitations of the various agencies, understanding requirements of responsibilities therein and constantly communicating among ourselves will help reduce the negative perceptions about each other,’’ he said.
He further revealed that, the outcome of the seminar and recommendations from the proceedings of the seminar would be communicated to the various agencies for proper understanding and implementation.
He commended the president for the establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, adding that it would fill the gap in the provision of humanitarian assistance in the crisis areas.
By LCpl Augustine Nwoba
