An Urgent Call for Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria’s Security Sector

 ‘Daddy, Boko Haram is here… they are taking us away. Please tell mummy I may never see her again. Tell her to pray for me,”( Abducted Chibok girl- CNN May 9, 2014  )- This is the trauma that many Nigerians have been exposed to as a result of the activities of the local terrorist group called Boko Haram. The recent abduction of almost 300 girls in Chibok, Maiduguri has generated global attention to terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria. Bomb attacks and unrest have become a daily occurrence in the Northern part of the country. Let’s not forget random kidnappings and armed robbery that occur regularly in other parts of Nigeria.

Considerable resources are allocated to the security sector yet there appears to be no improvement in security. In the past three years, about N2.8 trillion naira ($17 billion dollars) have been allocated to security, 3.5 times the size of Nigeria’s Federal Health Budget, 2 times the Federal Education budget and 12 times the Federal Agriculture budget. 

Despite these resources, some soldiers deployed to fight the terrorists claim that of the N30, 000 ($200) of allowances that theyare entitled to they only receive N15, 000 ($100). Basic equipment and camp provisions are inadequate for fighting the terrorists. The 2013 Transparency International Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index (GI) ranks Nigeria alongside countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq as countries with a very high risk of corruption in the defence sector, with limited transparency and legislative oversight on expenditures in this area.  

The Coordinator of the Procurement Monitoring Group in Nigeria, Ms Seember Nyager recently emphasized the need for the security contracts to be made publicly available.I agree with her and join the call for more transparency in this area. Nigerians need to demand for more transparency in the expenditure of the security budget and more accountability for those entrusted with security spending. Not only should this be an election issue for 2015 but arguably action should be taken now, with the anti-graft agencies getting more involved in investigating any alleged cases of corruption in the sector with prosecutions and convictions. If the Nigerian Government is serious in providing security to the nation, political appointees should be sacked if soldiers, police etc. are not receiving their rightful allowances.  There needs to be more accountability in this area.

Politicians running for office in 2015 should commit to increasing transparency in the expenditure of the security budget. Leaders need to take action where there is evidence of budgeted funds not being used appropriately.  Nigerians should ask parliamentarians representing their constituencies to commit to ensuring proper legislative oversight in this area. The largest chunk of the country’s budget is spent on security. Lives are being lost on a daily basis as a result of violence. We need better security outcomes. Please let’s demand for more transparency and accountability in this area to avoid more deaths and people sleeping in bushes as is currently the case in the Chibok community.

The missing Chibok girls: What the Nigerian government should have done

It has been three weeks (23 days) since over 200 young secondary school girls were abducted in Chibok, Borno state.The government’s response has been disappointing resulting in nationwide protests.There are many immediate actions that the Nigerian government should have taken to demonstrate its commitment as well as help in bringing back the girls home.They include the following:

• A nationwide presidential broadcast should have been given immediately after receiving the news of the abducted girls.
• No time ought to have been wasted. The military should have been mobilized immediately to go into the Sambisa forest (where it is believed that the girls were initially taken) rather than allowing parents with no military training to do so.
• The  government should have urgently requested for help from the international community to join forces with its military.
• A counselling center should have been set up for the families of the abducted girls.
• The government should have briefed Nigerians daily on progress being made to bring back the girls.
• The government should have worked with the school and families of the abducted girls to determine the names and numbers of the missing girls and not blame traumatized parents for being uncooperative.

Immediate responses like these are what Nigerians expect from its government. Setting up a committee weeks after the girls had been abducted is not the solution. In addition, arresting protesters fighting for the release of the girls is unacceptable and insensitive.

The Nigerian government needs to improve its intelligence gathering and the military’s capacity to handle terrorism issues. One of the main functions of government is to provide security for its people.  It is the right of every Nigerian to have good security. Nigerians need proper action now from its government. Please bring back our girls home.