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Last week President Jonathan convened an emergency
meeting of the country’s security chiefs at the end of which it was
announced that a decision had been made to appoint an anti-terrorism
adviser, who would report to the president.

Jonathan’s spokesperson also announced, “Mr.
President will work with the National Assembly to ensure the speedy
passage of the anti-terrorism bill. Government will also introduce
CCTVs in public places for access control. Regulations are also
underway for the access control for both public and private
establishments.”

While some of these are commendable (we await
further clarification on what will be involved in access control to
‘private establishments’), it is necessary to remind the authorities
that neither an anti-terrorism bill, nor a contract award for the
deployment of CCTVs will by themselves make a dent in Nigeria’s
vulnerability to terrorism.

Two things are required of a responsible
government: one, it must make it as difficult as possible for potential
terrorists to succeed; and two, it must ensure that acts of terrorism
are thoroughly investigated, and the culprits punished.

On both counts the Nigerian government has failed
woefully. There is nothing impressive about the intelligence-gathering
capabilities of our security agencies. The police especially seem to
have perfected the art of being caught unawares by criminals, be they
kidnappers, assassins, armed robbers or terrorists.

The Boko Haram debacle has turned into a revenge
fest. Turns out the mass killings in August 2009 following the attacks
by the group have, ‘scotched the snake not killed it.”

The track record of our security agencies is also
dismal when it comes to investigating security breaches and
apprehending suspects. With little or no forensics capabilities, the
most crucial bits of investigations often have to be outsourced to
foreign experts. At the moment, there are FBI agents in Abuja taking
lead roles in the attempts to get to the roots of the New Year’s Eve
bomb blasts. This terrorist act came just three months shy of the
October 1 bombing in Abuja during the ceremony of the 50th Independence
Anniversary of Independence. The trial of the main suspect in this
case, Henry Okah, has been underway in South Africa since October. The
three suspects held here in Nigeria, Charles Okah, Obi Nwabueze and
Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo are in detention awaiting the start of the
substantive trial against them.

How does a country serious about fighting terrorism intend to carry on that way?

There’s no way Nigeria can guarantee the safety of
the lives and property of its citizens as long as it lacks the capacity
to launch detailed investigations as soon as crimes are committed.

We also need President Jonathan to realise that an
anti-terror response can only be effective if properly coordinated. As
things currently stand, in the event of terrorist activity in Nigeria,
is it clear to all what the roles and responsibilities of the various
security agencies are? Do they carry out coordinated investigations, or
does every agency set out on its own?

Now, with the addition of the position of a
presidential adviser on terrorism, will an already chaotic set-up not
be further complicated?

What will the role of the adviser be in relation
to that of the National Security Adviser? Will there be clearly defined
reporting lines? On whose table (apart, of course, from the
president’s) will the buck stop regarding terrorism in Nigeria?

As long as these questions remain unanswered,
there is little chance that we will be able to successfully fight
terrorism. We hope President Jonathan realises that this is the perfect
opportunity for him to totally overhaul the nation’s intelligence
system and to find the training expertise and support needed to boost
its capabilities. There can be no cutting corners on the matter.

Last August the Comptroller-General of the
Nigerian Immigration Service, Rose Uzoma, convened a meeting of senior
officers of the service, and lamented, “the infiltration of weapons,
arms and ammunition through the different border posts, particularly
through the land borders.” She added, “in the interest of our national
security, all hands must be on deck to ensure that unauthorised
importation of weapons must not be permitted.”

It is rather curious to find the country’s
highest-ranking immigration service officer throwing her hands up in
frustration at the porous state of the country’s borders. But when we
recall that less than two weeks ago, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives was quoted as saying that “we are all fed up with what
is happening in Jos”, it becomes clear the extent to which despair has
gripped the country’s authorities.

In this state of despair, confusion is bound to
fester. Need we add that government confusion is the last thing a
nation at the mercy of terrorists needs?