Security expert Idris Yahaya says Nigeria’s Homeland Security Office will function better as a department directly under the presidency rather than as the office of a special adviser.

Mr Yahaya, a retired deputy comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service, made the assertion during an interview on Friday in Lagos.

He congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his recent appointment of Adeyinka Famadewa (rtd.) as the special adviser on homeland security.

He noted that although the appointment is commendable, a department reporting directly to the president would have easier access to him on urgent security matters.

“This will eliminate bureaucratic delays that can hinder prompt action.

“If it is a department on its own directly under the Presidency, it will have easy access to the President on urgent matters that require immediate action.

“Being a special adviser means the office has to go through bureaucratic processes, which usually delay responses to situations requiring swift intervention,” he said.

Mr Yahaya described Mr Famadewa’s appointment as apt, citing the retired general’s vast experience in intelligence gathering, which would strengthen the efforts of statutory security agencies in combating crime.

He also commended Mr Tinubu for establishing the homeland security office at a time Nigeria was facing numerous security challenges.

According to him, the new security architecture will complement the efforts of statutory security agencies in tackling internal threats, counter-terrorism, natural disasters and cybercrime.

Mr Yahaya expressed optimism that the initiative would significantly improve Nigeria’s security system and help curb kidnapping, insurgency, cybercrime and other forms of insecurity. 

(NAN)