Security hardware: Challenges before the nation demand robust investment

The discourse over insecurity in Nigeria has brought in arrays of perspectives when issues come to the subject of tackling the mayhem headlong. The reality has become dawn that with the clusters of insecurity cloggings sprouting widening networks of disturbances, only an elaborate architecture of response can be thought of, to clampdown on the wings of the turbulence. While, recently, case has been made for the adoption of soft instruments to blend the use of hard  architectures, it is indisputable that the place of hardware itself cannot in any way be ruled out of the systemic equation of responses.

It is known over time that one big case made by the military as part of the frustration it is suffering before insurgents and bandit groups is the paucity of sophisticated weaponry. It has been said of military officers, who have tasted the battle in confrontation with the Boko-haram/ISWAP insurgents, how at critical points they have been intimidated by the weakness of their ammunitions before sophisticated rifles and weapons of the enemies of the Nigerian State. From a fair point of view, such submissions remain rational, in the sense that should terrorist group be armed with sophisticated weapons, it is only a distaste to hear that recognised State Armed Forces are suffering from outdated weapons.

Among several calls on the Government recently for measures to tackle insecurity in the Country through military approach, has been the demand for robust investment in fortifying the arsenals of the military to stand at a formidable height against terror estates threatening the existence of the Country

While recently, records of the Government  procuring more ammunitions have been noted, it is noteworthy that they are infinitesimal compared to the demands before the Country’s military hardware. The Federal government had last Thursday, 13th January, 2022, in Abuja inaugurated over 200 Buffalo branded operational vehicles and other security hardware procured by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), as contained in its 2020 Budget, for the Nigerian Police Force. Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion, disclosed that the presentation of the operational equipment is part of the ongoing reformation of the Nigeria Police Force, by prioritising the provision of modern infrastructure to aid policing in Nigeria. According to the him,  the commissioning and numerous interventions by the Police Trust Fund, through equipping, training and modernisation of policing infrastructure, is in line with this administrations’ mandates to deepen security and safety nationwide. “There is no gainsaying that the establishment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund is very timely and apt, as it came at a time when Government is determined more than ever before to holistically address the various security challenges confronting our great Country Nigeria. Achieving the overall objectives of the Trust Fund should be internalised as the collective aspiration of all Nigerians in order to bridge the funding gap in policing by providing the NPF with required operational tools, equipment, training and re-training of personnel as well as the motivation of officers and men through improved welfare,” he was quoted.

It has become essential that the Government devise more strategic measures to develop structures to set up framework for the provision of financial, logistics and other critical interventions for all relevant security forces in the Country. This is essential to coordinate efforts towards building a robust security architecture with systemic response to clampdown on insecurity. The Police Trust Fund is a classical case of one of such structural modalities. Speaking on the significance of the Fund, Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali, had last week at the commissioning of the apparatus procured through the Fund said: “I have no doubt in my mind that the Nigeria Police Trust Fund is well-positioned to guarantee to the nation a well-equipped, well- trained, and well-motivated Nigeria Police Force that would be prompt and responsive to security challenges, in line with global standards and best practices and in furtherance to the internal security vision of Mr President.  The Trust Fund and the Nigeria Police Force have continued to maintain a cordial working relationship. Both Agencies have also been collaborating in the procurement planning processes for the execution of approved budgetary appropriations. This synergy has enabled both Agencies in conjunction with the Ministry of Police Affairs to articulate appropriate needs assessment in the preparation of the budget proposals and intervention for the operational efficiency and optimal service delivery of the Nigeria Police. Indeed, this collaboration has been instrumental-in the procurement and delivery of the operational assets being launched today.”

It is no doubt that the force of terror activities threatens Nigeria’s existence. It behooves the Government to upscale investment to fortify the Country’s arsenals. While the Government has been known by record to have earmarked large sums in the past for procurement of ammunitions, large chunk of which has been unaccounted for, it behooves the Government to redefine the system of procurement processes to eliminate possibilities of corruption. This is just as it would be necessary to investigate all cases of misappropriation of funds earmarked for procurement of ammunitions over time.

The need to clear off controversies which have formed the bases for the frustration of acquisition of weaponry and ammunition has become necessary. It would be observed how in some occasions Nigeria has been denied access by world powers to purchase sophisticated weaponry needed for operations. The need for the Government to eliminate controversies informing such resistance remain significant, just as it is sacrosanct for the Government to strengthen its diplomatic appeals with virile measures of reforms to build strong cord of responses to tackle the mayhem of insecurity headlong.