Dr Ahmed Audi, Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), called on security operatives on Monday in Abuja to shun inter-agency rivalry to foster national security.

Mr Audi gave the charge at a security seminar tagged “Promoting inter-agency collaboration among security agencies’’.

The seminar had heads of paramilitary agencies from the north-east and south-east geopolitical zones in attendance.

Mr Audi noted that rivalry was capable of eroding relationships between security agencies and consequently rubbing off negatively on the provision of adequate security.

He noted also that security agencies worked tirelessly to achieve the same goal of providing and maintaining security, stressing that no single agency had the monopoly of strategy to nip conflicts in the bud.

He also stressed the importance of collaboration, coordination and partnership between security agencies.

“Your participation at this seminar is an indication that we are making progress in enhancing synergy to boost coordination during collaborative operations,’’ Mr Audi said.

He encouraged participants to share their field experiences during the seminar’s interactive sessions to enhance policy-making decisions.

He also cautioned heads of security agencies to be more cautious and to always be alert so as not to fall victim to the nefarious antics of societal misfits.

“Be careful about your movements and itinerary as social misfits plan to start picking on heads of security agencies in states,’’ he admonished.

In his remarks, Lukas Laible, deputy resident representative of Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, a German development partner in Nigeria, noted that security agencies’ participation at the seminar indicated their willingness to promote security.

Mr Laible represented the resident representative of Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung in Nigeria, Marija Peran, at the seminar.

He stressed the need for collaboration between security agencies, considering Nigeria’s security situation.

“You are all front runners, so we hope the training helps you to understand one another better, notwithstanding the difference in points of view in certain areas,’’ he said.

In another presentation, Dr Uju Agomoh, executive director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, said heads of security agencies needed to study Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

She said compliance with the rule of law should be observed efficiently, such that the law serves the purpose of establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights.

“Security agencies should work together to maintain the rule of law because it is important to display good conduct, as this will show people what to comply with.

“There are a lot of things to be done at our level; hence, not portraying lawful behaviours is as powerful as anything because citizens follow what they see.

“Observance of the rule of law is a major way to promote adequate security because a lack of the rule of law leads to injustice, anger, discontent and conflicts,’’ Mr Agomoh said.

(NAN)