By Emmanuel Kehinde, Ilorin
Professor Tajudeen Akanji, the immediate Past Director, Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, has called on government to adopt an inclusive strategy to comprehensively take on board, all sectors of the society to address national security challenges.
Akanji made the call at Maiden Public Lecture, titled: “Security Threat Profile and Management in Nigeria: Imperative for a New Reform Agenda”, organised by Al-Hikmah University in Ilorin on Thursday.
He said this should be in a situation where different groups contribute in a cooperate, collaborative and coordinative manner.
The don also called on Nigerians to put up all resources to fight insecurity in order to secure the nation.
He noted that Nigerians had been facing insecurity in the last few years, a development he noted was appearing as “if we are not getting any solution.”
“Whereas, it is just because we are not been addressing the problem the way it should be addressed.
“So what we have come here to do is to make people understand what threat is about and to have common understanding of how every sector can contribute its own quota,in a collaborative manner,to be able to address, understand and solve the problem.
“It is because we are thinking that the issue of insecurity has to be dealt with by the security agencies alone, but we need to understand that security is all of the people affair,” said Prof. Akanji.
He added that the choice of topic for discussion was deliberate, saying that provision of security constitutes one of the fundamental objectives and indeed,the foremost responsibility of every government and the state.
He said further that the first national objective in the National Security strategy document is the protection of the Nigerian people and territory by strengthening and equipping the security agencies.
”This is to comprehensively and decisively address all domestic and external threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Therefore, a secured nation is a cured nation which will be a safe ground for nations to realise their developmental agenda,security leadership is one of the key ingredients of good governance.
”It is the process of understanding the character and process of leading a secured nation,where humanity is able to realise its full potential,” Akanji added.