Insecurity: Experts seek incorporation of security education into school curriculum
Insecurity: Experts seek incorporation of security education into school curriculum
The Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), has advocated that security education and awareness be made mandatory at all levels of education in Nigeria.
This is contained in a Communique issued at the end of the Maiden Annual Lecture of AANISS held recently in Abuja.
The annual lecture had as its theme “Mobilising Stakeholders to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria: A Practical Approach”
The communique signed by Mr Mike Ejiofor, President, AANISS, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, also urged government at all levels to continue to create sustainable employment opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths.
Ejiofor said this would reduce the tendency of their involvement in crime.
He also recommended the adoption of ”whole of government, whole of society, whole of nation” concept and people-centric security architecture.
He further called for collaboration between Nigerian security agencies and neighbouring Francophone countries for enhanced intelligence gathering and security operations at the country’s borders.
”Local communities should be trained, empowered and engaged as part of first line of defence, while major stakeholders should be involved in policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
”Security education and awareness should be made mandatory at all levels of education in Nigeria,” he added.
The communique also urged relevant authorities to create and maintain joint security and intelligence operation centres with complementary operational command structures.
”The centres are to organise joint patrols, surveillance and coordinated operations to tackle illegal arms smuggling, drug trafficking and cross border crimes.
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”Security, intelligence and other related institutions should include in their recruitment processes people with ability to speak French language in view of Nigeria’s Francophone neighbours to facilitate easy communication and reduce border crimes,” Ejiofor said.
The communique further recommended that traditional value of communalism be revived through traditional institutions at community levels to prepare them as first-line of defence in security initiatives.
This, according to the communique, will enhance inclusiveness, trust, cooperation, proactive measures in crime prevention and serve as check on potential security challenges at grassroots level.
It urged relevant agencies to make available counter-terrorism instruments for information, education and use by all, including traditional rulers, adding it should also be incorporated in educational programs in schools.
Ejiofor urged state governors to have a buy-in for effective inclusion of local governments’ councils.
