Amos Ojo, the clerk of the National Assembly, says the rivalry among the Nigerian Army, the police, the SSS and other security agencies is worsening the deterioration of insecurity in Nigeria. 

He also called on Nigerians to support security operatives to tackle bandits and other criminals terrorising the country.

“The consequences of inter-agency rivalry have far-reaching implications on national security and exacerbate the already existing security challenges confronting the country,” the clerk stated. “The findings of KAS showed more light on intricacies associated with some laws guiding the operations of security agencies, which include (an) overlap of functions, unclear delineation of functions.”

The clerk gave the charge in Abuja on Monday while delivering the opening remarks at a two-day retreat on National Security Legislative Reform for Senate Committee members, organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).

Mr Ojo expressed concern over the escalation of security challenges through social media, adding a need to put relevant legislation in place to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

He said social media was having a field day, feasting on such conflicts, especially inter-agency rivalries witnessed among security personnel, arising from the circulation of texts, pictures and videos.

The clerk said it was the duty of Nigerians to support security agencies and not to escalate situations through social media to avoid worsening the current insecurity across the country.

Mr Ojo added that amending all existing incongruous legislations and making provisions that would eliminate counter-productivity and ensure inter-agency collaboration required deliberate efforts and resources.

The retreat was organised in furtherance of activities undertaken to address issues relating to the country’s overlapping mandates of security agencies.

Others, according to him, are the conflicting description of conditions and guidelines for collaboration between security agencies.

The study by KAS in 2020 revealed that the duplication of duties and lack of proper coordination often led to inter-agency rivalry among security agencies. 

(NAN)