Insecurity a major factor fueling Japa syndrome – Security expert
A security expert and lecturer at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Dr. Adejoh Sunday has attributed insecurity as one of the major factor fueling Japa syndrome in Nigeria.
Sunday who made the disclosure during his presentation on recruitment systems and the efficiency of the defence and security sector at a two day workshop organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) in collaboration with Transparency International – Defense and Security Program with support from Ministry of foreign affairs of the Netherlands in Yola noted that lack of confidence in the ability of the security operatives to secure lives, is a major factor leading professionals to leave Nigeria to other climes in droves.
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The security expert added that from 2021 to 2024, Nigerians have spent a whooping N250bn in payment of ransom warranting many individuals to lose hope in the ability of security operatives to secure their lives.
He added that the incursion of all sort of criminal gangs and violent militia groups ranging from Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and kidnappers who are maiming, killing and abducting innocent citizens with impunity has made a number of citizens to move to environments where safety is guaranteed.
Sunday noted that in most instances, recruitment of personnel in the security sector does not usually comform to best practices as issues such as nepotism, political interference, corruption, secrecy always results in the employment of persons who are not intellectually, physically and psychological ready to carry out the onerous job of securing the country.
He noted that as a result of the challenges, about 70 percent of those who are recruited into the security services are misfits and could not measure up to the challenges of providing security thereby compounding Nigeria’s security woes.
Also presenting his paper entitled “Nigeria’s defence sector persistent corruption risk amidst escalating security threats, Mr. Jimoh Abubakar, from CISLAC who presented a documented report on transparency and accountability in security sector noted that procurement, defence spending and budgeting process were always hobbled in opaqueness and corruption.
He also noted that recruitment process in the defence sector is faulty while the system suffers inadequate human resources, poor remuneration just as critical oversight and public access to defence information are almost non existent.
Abubakar noted that in the last 20 years, Nigeria has lost no fewer than $15bn to corruption in the security sector adding that such is largely responsible for the insecurity bedeviling the land and the proliferation of armed militia groups across Nigeria.
He disclosed that as a result of the inefficiencies and corruption, many misfits and undesirable elements who perpetrate all forms of human rights violations ended up being recruited in the security systems.
Abubakar called on the civil society and the media to maintain a stout and resilient activism towards ensuring transparency and accountability in defence procurement, recruitment and other critical areas in order to ensure a more robust and responsible security service provision in the country.
The workshop was attended by a wide array of security operatives including the Nigerian Army, police, NSCDC, NDLEA, civil society organizations and the media.
