The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has stressed the importance of establishing a seamless and secure mechanism for real-time intelligence sharing to enhance proactive responses to security threats. Speaking at an Interagency Security Seminar organized by the Army War College Nigeria, Gaidam emphasized that optimizing multi-agency efforts for effective threat response requires addressing critical gaps in the country’s security framework. He highlighted the need for cross-agency training and scenario-based drills to foster operational interoperability and mutual trust among agencies, leveraging modern technologies like artificial intelligence and digital forensics to improve operational effectiveness.
Gaidam outlined the complex security challenges facing Nigeria, ranging from insurgency and terrorism in the North-East, banditry and farmer-herder conflicts in the North-West and North-Central regions, to separatist movements in the South-East and organized crime in the South-South and South-West. He emphasized that these threats require a comprehensive approach involving the entire government and society. According to him, economic disparities, governance issues, and the increasing use of technology by criminal enterprises further exacerbate the situation.
The Minister pointed out that traditional security approaches, which focus solely on military or law enforcement responses, are no longer sufficient. An integrated approach is necessary, one that brings together military forces, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and civil society. He stressed that multi-agency collaboration is not optional but essential to effective security management. Gaidam called for improved synergies between the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, DSS, NSCDC, NIS, and NCS.
Gaidam also underscored the crucial role of the civilian population in security management. He advocated for strengthening police-community relations and promoting community policing initiatives, which will enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities and improve preventive security measures. The seminar’s guest lecturer, Major General Babagana Mohammed Monguno (Rtd), also reinforced the importance of military operations in restoring peace and stability. Despite the successes of ongoing military operations, he stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to effectively mitigate contemporary security threats across the country.
