----- As COAS presents IPSS Strategic Personality lecture
By Patience Ogbo
The
University of Ibadan Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies IPSS
under the Directorship of Professor Ruth Adio- Moses has continued to
blaze the trail and set the pace in providing the needed platform for
the gown and town to meet regularly to proffer strategic solutions to
tackling threats to the unity of Nigeria.
This
is noted following the Institute's series of distinguished personality
lectures which have featured top security Chiefs in Nigeria from the
Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to the Chief of Naval
Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and the Chief of Army Staff
lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja who presented the Institute 's Strategic
Personality lecture on Friday.
The
lecture titled “Combating an Adversary Without Boundaries: The Need to
Implement A Whole of Society Approach to Nigeria’s National Security”.
In
her welcome address, the Director of the Institute For Peace and
Strategic Studies IPSS University of Ibadan Professor Ruth Adio- Moses
said the lecture is aimed at addressing threats in the country .
She
said “The topic was strategically chosen knowing the current
precarious threats facing Nigeria, such as insurgency, terrorism,
separatist agitations and violent extremism, and the need for a whole
social approach,”
Lt-Gen
Taoreed Lagbaja, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding
2-Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Obinna Onubogu, said
tackling poverty and unemployment will greatly reduce threats to the
country . He said “The twin problems of unemployment and poverty has given
impetus to security challenges, as the unemployed and poor are
susceptible to recruitment by criminals and violent Non State Actors.“
Proffering
solutions to these threats , the COAS said “A whole-of-society
approach must be implemented in Nigeria by leveraging the strength of
every stakeholder to ensure a cohesive and coordinated response to
threats. To achieve this, there must be enhanced communication,
cooperation, and trust among the different sectors and efforts must be
aligned with national interests and other security objectives".
The
COAS added that "The strategy can potentially address the root causes
of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and social injustice often
exploited by adversaries,” porous and unmanned borders of Nigeria have
opened Nigeria to the infiltration of adversaries from the west Africa,
adding that “four West African countries ranked among the 10 most
terrorised nations of the world is indicative of the transnational
affliations existing among terror groups in sub-Saharan Africa.Nigeria
army is deepening synergy with other agencies to achieve the mandates
of securing lives and properties and keeping the country safe".
The
COAS urged the Ministry of Education and the National Orientation
Agency to continue to englighten and sensitise citizens and stakeholders
on security and thier roles as citizens.
He said "This is important as well in understanding the supremacy of national interest and citizens’ responsibility.”
The
COAS further assuring of the government's commitment to securing lives
and properties said the federal government had bought into the concept of
the “Whole of Society Approach” in 2016.
”This
was by setting up the Presidential Committee on the North-East
Initiative (PCNI) and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC)
through the NEDC Establishment Acts in 2017,
“The national security strategy, among others, recognises the importance of this concept.
“However,
its implementation has become rather slow due to some factors such as
collaboration among stakeholders, security awareness, and use of
technology, among others".
The
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale,
said the lecture is timely looking at the threats to the existence of
the country as he assured that the University of Ibadan will continue
to set the pace and be in the fore front of providing the required
teaching and researches that will drive the country into prosperity.
The
chairman of the occasion and a former commander, Military Joint Task
Force MJTF N’Djamena, Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (rtd.), commended the
military for keeping the nation united inspite of the threats.
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