Former Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, don call on federal and state governments to face poverty, unemployment and other governance wahala as sure way to fight insecurity for Nigeria.
Egbetokun yarn this one for keynote address yesterday at the 20th International Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), wey happun for Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State. The theme na ‘Security Governance and Global Dynamics’.
He talk say the problem need more than military force. According to am, there is no military solution to governance problem. He also call for strategic redefinition of Nigeria security strategy around everyday security needs of citizens, including food, employment, healthcare and education.
The former police chief warn say hungry and unemployed youth fit become vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups. He put am clear: ‘A hungry, unemployed youth is a recruitment base for any extremist ideology. Policing poverty with bullets is a losing strategy.’
Egbetokun tok say security no be only about protecting territorial borders. For him, security also cover access to justice, economic opportunities, healthcare, protection from violence, and citizens confidence say institutions go treat them fair.
He list governance gap between the emergence of security threats and institutions ability to respond collectively as one of Nigeria major challenges. He talk say global security system wey dey protect borders but ignore poverty, displacement, climate vulnerability and social exclusion go remain incomplete.
Though he call for reforms in policing architecture and constitutionally defined multi-level policing system wey get federal, state and community policing, the former police chief still call for clear rules of engagement, funding and accountability when devolving policing powers to states and local councils.
He add say a single federal police structure for 230 million people no dey governable. He maintain say security governance mean clarity of roles.
Earlier, President of SPSP, Prof. Benjamin Aluko, note say international system dey experience unprecedented uncertainty, protracted violent conflicts, ethno-religious tensions, extremism and state fragility. He talk say questions of security governance don become central to efforts to promote peace, justice, human rights, development and social order globally.
Also, Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, talk say security include justice, institutional trust, economic opportunities and social inclusion. Weak governance dey create conditions for insecurity to thrive, but accountable, inclusive and responsive governance dey promote peace.
Adeyemo talk say universities get responsibility to contribute to social transformation by producing problem-solvers, peacebuilders and ethical leaders capable of addressing complex national and global challenges.
