Civil rights activist and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has criticised the creation of new political offices as a response to insecurity, insisting that comprehensive reforms within Nigeria’s security sector remain the only effective solution to the country’s worsening security challenges.
Rafsanjani stated this in an interview on ARISE News on Sunday, while reacting to recent security developments and fresh appointments within President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on the appointment of a Special Adviser on Homeland Security alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser, Rafsanjani said Nigerians were more concerned about improved security outcomes than additional political offices.
“Political appointment is not the solution to the insecurity that we have,” he said.
“I think Nigerians are looking for an enhanced effectiveness in the security sector that will ensure Nigerians live well, do their businesses, you know, without being attacked or without being stopped by any terrorists or criminals in Nigeria.”
He argued that creating more political positions would only increase government spending and create further bureaucracy within the security structure.
“Creating political offices, you know, is another waste of public taxpayer’s money, and it’s also creating additional ranking, you know, within the different offices.”
Rafsanjani stressed that the government should instead focus on addressing structural problems affecting security agencies.
“What you have is that look at the institutions that you have, look at the personnel that you have, see how you can ensure that what is not working is working now, so that they can be able to do the needful.”
He also renewed calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the security system.
“Carry out robust, comprehensive reform in the security sector, so that if you carry that reforms, you know, the existing structures and personnel that you have, if the problem is from there, deal with it.”
According to him, corruption, poor welfare and weak operational capacity continue to undermine the fight against terrorism and banditry.
“If it is the problem of corruption in the sector, and impunity and lack of seriousness that some people are demonstrating, deal with that one. If it is lack of motivation for our security personnel, deal with that one.”
Rafsanjani further criticised the imbalance in the deployment of security personnel, saying too many officers were attached to politicians while communities facing attacks remained vulnerable.
“Just look at how much personnel we are devoting to some political actors, leaving communities without security personnel that can even deal with the issues of insecurity in the various communities that you have.”
“That following individuals, one individual politician can have up to 10, 20 policemen following him. And at the same time, communities that needed the presence of policemen, you don’t see them there.”
He urged the federal government to prioritise security sector reforms and focus on protecting citizens and restoring investor confidence in Nigeria.
“So, therefore, I’m urging Mr. President to prioritize, even though we are going into election, but it’s very important to prioritize through security sector reforms with the view to human security, with the view to protecting Nigeria, so that investors can come and have confidence in business in Nigeria.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
