Graduating Security Expert Urges 70% Corporate CSR Funding for Nigerian Security Agencies | Cliptv Online

The Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna recently held its 33rd Convocation Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of Cadets from the 70 Regular Course and postgraduate students. Among these accomplished graduates is Matthew Ibadin, a prominent Lagos-based security expert, who was conferred a Master’s degree in Strategy Security and Administration at the ceremony.

Mr. Ibadin’s journey to this educational achievement is marked by his relentless commitment to promoting security awareness in Nigeria through seminars, workshops, and conferences. He firmly believes that intelligence gathering and community policing are essential in creating a society with minimal crime rates.

During an interview at the convocation, Mr. Ibadin called for an innovative approach to funding Nigerian security agencies. He stressed that security demands substantial financial resources and proposed a review of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) laws for both indigenous and multinational companies. He recommended that approximately seventy percent of their annual CSR budgets be mandated for funding security agencies, as these organizations are fundamental to maintaining a safe business environment. This financial allocation could be directed to a national security trust fund.

Mr. Ibadin further emphasized the significance of public cooperation with security agencies. He underlined the necessity of trust between the citizenry and the police. To foster this cooperation, he advocated for initiatives such as novelty matches or interactive sessions, which enable police officers to interact with citizens in a friendly environment, thus building mutual trust.

Addressing the issue of border security, Mr. Ibadin highlighted the porous nature of Nigeria’s land borders. He identified the influx of small arms and light weapons from the Sahel region as a substantial challenge. To address this issue, he recommended a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s security architecture. He suggested that the Nigerian Army should lead efforts to secure the borders, while the police should focus on internal security and policing, including counterinsurgency operations.

According to Mr. Ibadin, the Nigerian police should be held accountable for internal security, and the federal government should allocate the internal defense budget to the police for effective management. He urged the Nigerian government to make these significant changes, which he believes would lead to a more secure nation.

In his view, the intertwining of politics and security has complicated Nigeria’s security challenges over the years. Mr. Ibadin called for the separation of politics from security matters. He argued that politicians involved in criminal activities, such as sponsoring terrorists, must be held accountable, regardless of their political affiliations. He stressed that the prosecution of influential individuals who commit crimes is crucial to upholding the rule of law.

Regarding the documentation of crimes, Mr. Ibadin highlighted the need for a comprehensive national crime database. He proposed a system that captures the facial features and biometric information of all crime suspects. This information should be accessible to police stations nationwide and shared with various security agencies.

Additionally, Mr. Ibadin recommended the transformation of the country’s toll gates into mini barracks for security agents, which would serve as bases for tracking highway criminals.

While Mr. Ibadin commended current security agencies for their efforts, he believed there was room for improved inter-agency collaboration. He suggested that the National Security Adviser should develop a security framework for better cooperation among security agencies. He further recommended the establishment of a Security Agency Academy to train security personnel together and a recreational center for networking and bonding.

When asked about the issue of “unknown gunmen” in the South East, Mr. Ibadin suggested a dialogue between the government and these groups, similar to the approach used in addressing the Niger Delta militancy through the amnesty program during President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration. He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to fulfill its campaign promise to restructure the police and other security agencies, emphasizing the need to prevent the unjustified promotion of officers with political connections, which contravenes existing promotion regulations.

Matthew Ibadin’s comprehensive insights underscore the importance of innovative approaches to security and crime prevention in Nigeria. As a recent graduate of the Nigeria Defence Academy, his perspective carries considerable weight and offers valuable recommendations for the nation’s future security strategies.