Nigeria’s security and the general elections

As the general elections draw near, every Nigerian citizen should have specifications they look out for in the candidates. One of those is a candidate who can ensure formidable national security.

In the last 10 years, Nigeria has experienced a mirage of security attacks and economic challenges. The economic challenges have also increased crime rates, banditry, herdsmen attacks, terrorism, bombings, beheading, and shootings.

For this article, I’ll be limiting my discussion to the country’s homeland security, what every Nigerian should know about it, and what citizens should look out for in the candidates.

I must also mention that after all this is said and done, everyone has a part to play. This is because the issue of national security is not the government’s responsibility alone

Let’s begin with what the homeland security framework is about. The paramount goal of any homeland security framework is to protect the citizens, critical infrastructure, and vital resources. In addition, the framework must be powerful enough to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks.

It must also include how to respond swiftly to attacks and resettlement of victims. Candidates who cannot explicitly define the plans they have in place to secure the nation should not be considered. Those whose plans lack these details should also not be considered. This is only the first step, but it proves to the candidates that it will not be business as usual.

Citizens must now go a step further by ensuring that whatever framework is developed, is executed by keeping the government accountable. Gone are the days when it’s just talk and no action. There’s too much at stake to do business as usual.

I must also mention that after all this is said and done, everyone has a part to play. This is because the issue of national security is not the government’s responsibility alone. Individuals, communities, religious institutions, and non-profit organisations each have their roles.

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Why should everyone be involved, you may ask?

If everyone decides to take up this responsibility instead of pointing fingers, we’d begin to experience change.

How do we look out for our neighbours and the people in our communities? Do we share critical information with security agencies so they can abort terrorist attacks? Remember that the government doesn’t operate in isolation.

If we go back in Nigeria’s history, we’d see how the different dynasties functioned to protect their land and people in conjunction with the community. We need to reintroduce this method if the country will be secure again. We can’t keep deferring security to the government alone.

I’m emploring every Nigerian to take a deeper look into the national security infrastructure and analyse what it’s going to look like with a change in government.

Do not settle for just mere words, review actions and task performance. Play your part and demand accountability. Hopefully, if we begin with these, we’d get something done.