The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for improved coordination and collaboration among security agencies to address the national security threats in Nigeria.
Collaboration among security agencies in Nigeria, according to CISLAC is essential because a single agency may face difficulties addressing the current security events alone and interagency collaboration at all levels is critical.
While speaking during a one-day workshop on improving coordination, collaboration and communication among security institutions in the areas of Early Warning/Early Response in Nigeria, Jimoh Abubakar, Program Officer CISLAC shared that security threats in Nigeria are multifaceted and less predictable with blurred boundaries between external and internal risks.
Abubakar explained that continued inter-agency collaboration among defense and security institutions is germane to activating functional community network systems for timely early warning signals.
To achieve effective inter-agency collaboration, Abubakar said the security agencies should “foster open communication by establishing clear communication channels and defining clear roles and responsibilities to minimize duplication of efforts.”
He also added that effective interagency collaboration can be achieved if the agencies can “identify all their shared resources, including technology and staff to maximize interagency capabilities; and partner with the private sector as they can provide additional resources.”
He also called for the implementation of the National Security Strategy (2019) to enhance interagency collaboration, communication and coordination.
Security operatives in attendance also charged CSO and media participants to report early signals to the Police or make anonymous reports through the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU).
In attendance were Officials of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The workshop was organized by CISLAC with support from the Open Society Foundation Africa (OSF-Africa).