National Security Adviser, Alhaji Sambo
Dasuki, on Monday in Abuja warned Nigerians to be extra careful when
hiring security personnel, saying such measures would circumvent the
mistake of recruiting terrorists and people with criminal tendencies.
The NSA sounded the warning during a
one-day workshop with the theme, ‘Importance of Security Awareness and
Drills in Contemporary Nigeria’, which was jointly organised by his
office, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
and the Department of Security Service.
Participants at the workshop were
largely made up of religious, traditional and community leaders, who
are expected to communicate the message to the people at the grass
roots.
Dasuki, who was represented by Maj-Gen.
Babatunde Samuel (retd.), said investigation had revealed that some of
the security personnel patronised by several individuals, communities
and organisations were in most cases unqualified people with
questionable characters.
He said, “I also wish to warn you about
the personnel you patronise in the course of improving security. You
should be careful because those that have been vetted are found to have
no fixed addresses or the requisite qualification or expenses that they
claim to have.
“Some are even of questionable
character; you must therefore check their antecedents before you
patronise them. It is based on the imperative to make Nigerians
security conscious that the Federal Government gave you (participants)
the opportunity to become pioneers of the rejuvenated national security
awareness programme.”
Dasuki said the Federal Government,
through DSS, had undertaken vulnerability assessment of the ministries,
departments and agencies to improve their security apparatus.
According to him, the Federal
Government is doing its best to discharge its constitutional
responsibilities by “putting adequate measures in place to detect and
arrest the menace of terrorists, religious intelorance, armed robbery,
kidnappings, pipeline vandalism, piracy, corruption and other related
crimes that impact negatively on Nigeria image and economy.”
He added, “You should know that the
Federal Government, through the DSS, has undertaken a robust
vulnerability assessment of most MDAs in Abuja. This was subsequently
followed up with improved access control by providing other vehicles
inspection system, mobile detectors.
“Security inspection committees was
also set up by various MDAs to ensure compliance with the security
regulations as they affect the safety of government personnel,
documents, facilities and structures.”
In his speech, the SGF, Senator Pius
Anyim, explained that the workshop was borne out of the Federal
Government’s desire to make most Nigerians security conscious and to
establish the necessary condition for the actualisation of the
transformation agenda.
Anyim, who was represented by the
Permanent Secretary (Special Service Office, SGF), Mrs. Esther Gonda,
said if every segment of the society played its role or contributed its
quota well, Nigeria would be a better place.
He said, “It is important that the
Government and other relevant stakeholders like you to do their best to
improve security in the country. We must use our various levels of
authority in the society to discourage sensational comments,
corruption, provocative preaching, religious or ethnic intolerance,
unpatriotic speeches, especially by politicians.”
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