Aregbesola Urges Synergy Amongst Security Agencies

By Bukar Bolori

Security agencies in the country have been advised to cooperate and work with one another in other to promote peace and ensure adequate security for all Nigerians.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, gave the charge while receiving the management of the National Defence College, Abuja, in his office at the weekend.

A statement on Saturday by the Media Adviser to the Minister, Sola Fasure quoted his boss to have said: “I recognize the role of the Nigerian Armed Forces in promoting peace and ensuring adequate security for all Nigerians. However, we must ensure all security agencies in the country which include all branches of the Nigeria Military, the Nigeria Police Force and other Paramilitary Security Agencies in the country, must cooperate and see themselves as one and avoid inter-agency rivalry.

“I salute your professionalism and excellence in the discharge of your duties to the nation and keeping Nigeria one,” the minister stated.

The Minister promised he will make himself available as resource person for the college anytime he is called upon.

He said: “As per your request, communicate with my office, anytime you want me to serve as a resource person, I will make myself available for service”.

The minister also urged the College to include senior officers from the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in its training programme.

He asked that: “Also, kindly include officers of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in your trainings. They play a critical role in securing lives and property. Though we haven’t started having huge wide fires like they do in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey amongst others, however, the effect of climate change is beginning to catch up with us.

“We must prepare our officers for the task ahead. It’s only an unwise fellow that would wait to learn from his own experience and not from the experience of others. Let us join hands in training and building the capacity of our officers to not only acquire the capacity to physically fight wild fires, but to have the managerial know-how on resource management and effective collaboration with other security agencies, like the Nigeria Air Force, who have the capacity – if well equipped – to fight fire with water and suppressant through aerial bombardment,” the Minister noted.

Speaking earlier, the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Muritala Bashir, stated that the courtesy visit was necessitated by the need to collaborate with the Ministry of Interior, especially for the fact that it supervises critical Paramilitary Agencies in Nigeria.

“We acknowledge and recognize the good works of the Ministry you are leading and the agencies under you have been doing in securing the country.

“I took over the office three weeks ago and I know immediately that your ministry is one of the most critical I must engage and brief on our activities. Our aim is to prepare senior officers for operational and strategic leadership in their various agencies of government.

“At the moment, we have three officers selected from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, out of the over 200 participants selected from 16 countries participating in Course 30,” Rear Admiral Bashir noted.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaibu Belgore intimated the delegation of the ministry’s cooperation in achieving its aims and objectives.

Others at the event include, Air Vice Marshal BLP Keenam, Brig. General EF Oyinlola, Commander CF Umar, Lt. Commander LY Maitama, Sub. Lt. SA Shuwa, directors in the ministry, representatives of the paramilitary agencies in the ministry amongst others.