Security agencies do not work together as closely as expected - NSA

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) says non-cooperation of security agencies must end if the nation must achieve its national security objectives.

He also advocated for traditional rulers to be assigned more roles in a bid to secure their communities through intelligence gathering for security agencies.

This, he said, remains one of the strategies state government could adopt to strengthen the security apparatus in their states.

Monguno spoke Thursday in a speech at the third quarterly meeting of Secretaries of State Governments (SSGs) in Abuja.

“If you disengage community leaders, you will not have the type of intelligence you need.

“Right now, security agencies do not work together as closely as expected. We have been trying to ensure unity of purpose, unity of operation,” he said.

Monguno stated that the situation was traceable to the Dasuki report of 1976.

“Whether we like it or not, in Nigeria, we fundamentally rely on traditional institutions. They are essential to security and if they do not carry the kind of authority they ought to, we cannot recalibrate the entire political structure.

“Leave out our traditional rulers, you will begin to see all kinds of leaders of various sects filling the vacuum because their traditional rulers have been taken away from what they are supposed to do and coordinate,” Monguno stated.

The NSA, however, urged the SSGs to go back to their states and deliberate with their principals to make them understand the importance of traditional rulers.

“It is not to give people traditional titles alone. Traditional rulers must be fully engaged to support our efforts,” he added.