There was a time when national security, for the most part, meant military projections. And so it was that within the tenets of the traditional paradigm of security, the purpose of national security was to safeguard national values which centered on survival, self preservation and self-perpetuation and the pursuit of objectives that contributed to the growth and preeminence of the nation.

During the Cold War, the national security goal of both spheres was to expel external aggression and contain internal upheavals. Today, there is more to it and with several components, i.e. economic and ecological concerns, terrorism and weapons proliferation, international health concerns, migration, shifting demographics, and more. While most of the world has come to grips with these concerns, Nigeria continues to stick to an archaic model of national security.

To be specific, national security is undergoing a metamorphosis. The world now speaks of human security -- a more encompassing and human-centered paradigm -- as opposed to national security which is state-centered and revolves around military projection. Even so, one area of our national security we seldom discuss is the intelligence agencies. For most of us, the intelligence community is a shadowy no-go area, a forbidden topic. For most people, spies are like mystical and mythical creatures.

But when we think or talk about it, it is generally in the context of a spy agency -- an agency that operates in foreign land. The truth is that members of this community operate both inside and outside of Nigeria. The Nigerian government website did not list its intelligence agencies; however, the Federation of American Scientist has a listing of Nigeria's intelligence agencies that was current as of 1998.

Most Nigerians are familiar with the Defense Intelligence Agency State Security Service and the National Security Organization, but are not conversant with the fact that the Navy, Air force, Police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Army all have intelligence wings.

In addition, the Nigerian Diplomatic service also has its intelligence service - as does all the diplomatic services of all the nations of the world. The British, French, Chinese, the American, German, and the Italian embassies for instance abound with intelligence officers with or without diplomatic covers. Some pose as entrepreneurs while others pose as expatriates working for foreign companies, or as researchers and university professors.

It should be noted that just as these countries play the spy game, so does Nigeria against these countries and against other African countries. South Africa, China, France, and Japan for instance, are masters at economic espionage -- an area Nigeria has not particularly wise up to. Intelligence, in its proper form, is still in its infancy in Nigeria.

No matter the nature and structure of the intelligence community, its primary purpose is to assist governments in the policy and decision making process. In other words: the intelligence agencies exist to do one thing and one thing only: assist the government in the furtherance of its domestic and foreign policy objectives -- whatever those objectives might be whether or not they fall within the bounds of law and human decency.

During the Apartheid era in South Africa, the intelligence community focused more on covert political and paramilitary operations, and in the process used intelligence as an instrument of intimidation and extra-judicial operations, i.e. the assassination of Blacks and other minority segments of the population who opposed the Apartheid regime.

However, since the collapse of the apartheid regime (and the introduction of popular sovereignty), reforms have been introduced by way of legislations and judicial mandate in order to restructure and reorient the intelligence and other security services. The expectation is that these reforms will have a positive impact on how the intelligence agencies conduct their operations.

The guiding principle of the South African intelligence community is/was well known; however, one wonders what the guiding principles of the Nigerian intelligence agencies are. I especially wonder why the Nigerian intelligence community has had so many monumental failures. Why for instance, have these agencies not been able to embed some of their members into the inner circles of those responsible for fanning religious and ethnic conflicts?

The weakness and or the failure of the Nigerian Intelligence Community is glaring. For instance, why is it that year after year, politicians and government officials are able to siphon public funds without the intelligence agencies being abreast and ahead of the culprits? Also, they seem not to know who is involved in money laundering, oil bunkering, arms dealings, and other manifestation of low intensity conflict.

Thousands of Nigerians and foreigners are engaged in illegal oil deals and in other crimes-- including white-collar crimes; yet, the government have no way of stopping these activities before they happen. What then are the duties and responsibilities of the police and these agencies? What are the duties of these agencies vis-à-vis transnational terrorism, transnational armed robbery, transnational prostitution and cross-border child-trafficking?

Derisively, some have jokingly said that “with little determination, Togo or Chad could catch Nigeria napping,” if those countries were bent on invading and annexing Nigeria. What we have in Nigeria is a near monumental failure in intelligence gathering. True, no intelligence agency any where in the world is one hundred effective and competent. As good as the MOSSAD is they have had to struggle with several failures and challenges.

And in spite of the billions and billions of dollars and superior human intelligence and electronic gadgets in the arsenal of the CIA, the FBI and other American agencies, they too have had to suffer some grave failures. The unfortunate events of 9/11 are examples of such failures. In the end though, the US, Israel, France, Germany and others can justify the resources at the disposal of their intelligence agencies because their failures are rare.

Does the Nigerian intelligence community have the ability to stop foreign intelligence from gathering sensitive information from our policy and decision-makers? In other words: are we capable of preventing opposing security organizations from eavesdropping on our ministers, governors and on Aso Rock -- considering the fact that we have foreign agents posing as business men and women crawling all over hotels in Abuja and Lagos and all over government ministries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and elsewhere?

Who, for instance, is keeping an eye on the German Bundesnachrichtendienst, the British M15 and M16, Israel’s HaMossad leModi’in v’leTafkidim Meyuhadima, and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation? Nigeria has the National Intelligence Agency. Past Director Generals have included Albert Horsfall, Haliru Akilu, Zakari Y. Ibrahim, Godfrey B. Preware, Uche O. Okeke, and Emmanuel E. Imohe.

Some of our public servants -- greedily in search of dollars and pounds and travel visa for their relatives and self -- easily sell or exchange state secrets. When the President and other government officials buy planes, telephones and fax machines, vehicles, computers and other equipments from abroad -- how certain are we that they are not secretly fitted with audio and video devices?

It is impossible to put a stop to hostile intelligence activities. Friends spy on friends. Political allies spy on each others. That is a given -- but worst still are enemies who have grand evil intentions. The Nigerian intelligence agencies must resolve to do a better job of protecting our vital interests. As things are, our boundaries, airports, seaports and waterways are not well-manned and so are not secured.

Sabidde@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Certain concepts are enjoying resurgence, a redefinition. Take for instance concep...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 18.09.2008 23:06

ocnus  Villager

# 2 There are some areas which this article omits which might well be addressed. The first is that the Nigerian security services are in some way not doing their duty. Nigerian security organisations are well-equipped and in constant contact with intelligence agencies in the West and East, as well as providing valuable leadership within West Africa. They have done this efficiently for many years and have been very generous with their co-operation. However, they are not policemen. They are not targeted on what corrupt politicians and businessmen are up to; nor in pursuing them. They are dealing with seeking to protect, advance and protect Nigeria's security. This involves finding out what other countries, agencies or groups have in store for Nigeria by establishing contacts and reliable sources of information; often in other countries. There are Nigerian security people at most embassies who maintain this effort and liaison with their foreign counterparts. They are also engaged in counterintelligence in which they deal with threats within Nigeria's borders. The fact that they don't get a lot of positive publicity derives from the fact that Nigeria's enemies are mainly Nigerians. There are few countries in the world, including West Africa, who are actively plotting to do any harm to Nigeria. The damage that is being done daily to Nigeria is being done by Nigerians. When the Nigerian Order of Battle is described on paper submissions to the National Assembly they often bear no resemblance to the actual state of military preparedness. The current situation in the troubles in the Delta illustrate this. The rebels are better armed than the army. Their boats work. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force just admitted to the President that none of his helicopters work so they cannot be deployed until major maintenance is carried out. The Nigerian navy has several fast patrol boats sitting at the dock where they are moved around by tugboats because they don't work. What foreign enemy could do worse to Nigeria than Nigeria is doing to itself? In many countries espionage deals with obtaining commercial information from companies through covert operations; stealing technology. What technology is there in Nigeria to be stolen? There are thousands of highly-skilled scientists, engineers and technicians from Nigeria; most of whom are working outside Nigeria. The technology frontier in Nigeria is in the petroleum industry, almost all of which is licensed from abroad. If someone wanted to steal this they would not have to come to Nigeria to do so. There are very few commercial secrets which Nigerian security have to protect. What foreign intelligence services seek in Nigeria is information about what is the reality behind the politician's bold dream of catching up with the developed world in ten or twenty years. What is the state of the armed forces; who is in charge of the government; which group is allied to which political force; to whom should a businessman speak to get something done; how close are the politicians to being caught or punished for what they do? In this, there is precious little scope for the Nigerian security services to intervene. So, for the most part, Nigeria is safe. There are few countries who pose any threat. The rise of Muslim fundamentalism in the North is a worry to foreigners but doesn't seem to concern the Nigerians very much. In short, in the words of that great American cartoon character, Pogo, "I have met the enemy and he is us". There is also a great misunderstanding about what is going on in South African intelligence. There is violent internal warfare going on there among former White staff (primarily Afrikaners), new and young Xhosa - ANC types and the rising Zulu-Zuma factions. Like Nigeria, South Africa has no need of external enemies. Posted by ocnus| 19.09.2008 02:01

Olamide  Villager

# 3 Intellignce agencies in Nigeria? What a laugh! We have nothing resembling an intelligence agency in Nigeria.Forget about the names you mentioned. As you rightly noted, all sorts of unbecoming things are happening in the Ministries and other sensitive government offices but the SSS is interested in closing down media houses and harrassing perceived 'enemies' of the government by putting them under 'surveillance'. Most staff of Nigeria's intelligence agencies are not intelligent at all and everytime you have dealings with them or read about their latest shenanigans, you cannot help being cynical. They are crude, backward and exhibit these attributes everywhere. I can pick out an SSS officer in a public gathering with one of my eyes closed because of the mannerisms that even a Trainee CIA agent will not even exhibit. Dark glasses even while in dark halls or in the night, ill-fitting suits even in stifling heat and this penchant for checking thier side-arms evry 5 minutes is all you have to look out for to pick them out. Add their penchant to display their ignorance of advances in technology and you have a perfect picture of our 'Intelligence' personnel. I remember being harrassed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in early 1999 by a buffon in suit because I had a Nokia 3310 in my possession while returning from Sierra Leone where I was working then. All my efforts to explain to him that even tomato sellers in Freetown were using the same phone proved abortive and he started talking about 'coming to our office for further investigations'. Mobile phones then were the preserve of Senators and Alaba International Market traders because it was so expensive. It was a White guy who came on the same flight that told this dummy that he also had a GSM phone in his possession and he can testify that everyone in Sierra Leone uses them before he shamefully turned back to go and harrass another unfortunate passenger of other offences of his own creation. Posted by Olamide| 19.09.2008 02:10

nijalaw  Villager

# 4 The major activities of our intelligence agencies is monitoring the press. Over the years most of their activities have been to lay siege on purportedly errant news houses, arrest of journalists/activists & deportation of foreigners. They are at loss what to do with militants, kidnappers, oil bunkerers & gun runners. Posted by nijalaw| 19.09.2008 04:41

emenanjo  Villager

# 5 In a country where there is no social security, intelligence and intelligence gathering begins and ends with the stomach. The network is a pyramidal booty. I cannot say more for fear of "unknown sojaaa, unknown sojaaaaaaaaaaaa"! Posted by emenanjo| 19.09.2008 07:36

Olu Affairs  Villager

# 6 Nigeria’s Intelligence Agencies (Spy Network) - This certainly must be the joke of the decade. A few months back the telephone lines to Aso rock and that of some other high ranking HQ of the Army, if not that of Nigerian Intelligence Agency was cut off for weeks on end (2 weeks at the least). How can we lay claim to the fact that something remotely close to the title of this write up exist in Nigeria. Posted by Olu Affairs| 19.09.2008 07:39

toksyleigh  Villager

# 7 You have to hand it to Sabella Abide, he knows how to make people laugh; most importantly hysterically with this article about the Nigerian Spy Agency...... I guess harassing hapless Nigerians at the airports and on the streets can be considered intelligence gathering Nigerian style. I mean our President knows that if he stays in Nigeria to treat kidney problems he would have been dead by now and you talk about Intelligence agency.. Ka ju kuo I don laugh till I tire.... God help us all, Goriola Abamieda Jr. Posted by toksyleigh| 19.09.2008 07:57

fxo  Villager

# 8 I remember a few years ago when some of the so called Military Intelligence agents of the Abacha regime were being questioned by the Oputa Panel, their defense was they were "serving the Commander in Chief". Forgeting that their mandate is to serve Nigeria. Not a commander in chief who will be gone in few years anyway. The CIA, FBI, NSA, MOSSAD, MI5, KGB and et al all put their country ahead of any of its leaders, political party or "current trend". How do you think the US manages to maintain the same attitude to the middle east, Oil, Isreal and et al no matter the party in power, no matter what they claim during election campaigns. The choices are made by people whose mandate is not tied to a president or party but to the greater good of their country. In Nigeria there no culture of such, half the time even educated people who are well traveled exhibit some myopic view of what is in the best interest of the country. We are talking of immunity clause, in the United States, the FBI, NSA or CIA do not wait for the politicians to destroy their country to a point of no repair before they take a step for the greater good. Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and et al have all suffered embarrassment and loss of face' due to the Intelligence agency taking the initiative to put a stop to potentially damaging excesses to the American state. Our so called "Spies" should first become patriots of the Nigerian state, not loyalist of the government. Posted by fxo| 19.09.2008 08:21

mesonigerian  JJC

# 9 I applaude the writer for raising such an important issue that no one seem to think is an integral part of political development. However to quote Onus “The first is that the Nigerian security services are in some way not doing their duty. Nigerian security organisations are well-equipped and in constant contact with intelligence agencies in the West and East, as well as providing valuable leadership within West Africa. They have done this efficiently for many years and have been very generous with their co-operation.” If Mr. onus can provide some backing (prove) to what he is saying will be appreciated, because we can’t see the result of their effectiveness or efficiency with the high level of insecurity that’s taking place in the country, oil bunkering etc. For example. Would he refute the assertion that the Nigerian state is incapable of stopping other foreign agancies from eavesdropping our heads of state in Aso Rock? What kind of technological equipments do we have that makes us well equipped and generous? Onus then made an incredible assertion that “However, they are not policemen. They are not targeted on what corrupt politicians and businessmen are up to; nor in pursuing them. They are dealing with seeking to protect, advance and protect Nigeria's security.” This is ludicrous to say the least, they, as state security service , are mandated to investigate and act against any situation that could potentially affect the security of the country and that includes, corruption such as election rigging, money laundry, stealing sensitive information, informing foreign entity of sensitive issues etc. Unless Mr. Onus have forgotten the recent closedown of Channels TV was justified by SSS as impacting on national security. And as the author suggested there are plenty of facets to national security. Mr. Onus also seem to forget that there is NIA which has a different role from the SSS, the former obviously have jurisdiction abroad while latter handles domestic security. “The fact that they don't get a lot of positive publicity derives from the fact that Nigeria's enemies are mainly Nigerians. There are few countries in the world, including West Africa, who are actively plotting to do any harm to Nigeria. The damage that is being done daily to Nigeria is being done by Nigerians”. This quote from Onus demonstrated a superficial understanding of international relations, Nigeria may not have many enemies that are seeking to destroy it, but that’s really not the point. The point is Nigeria is an incredibly important country because of its significant amount of potentialities and due to its role in West Africa and Africa as a whole, means it can pose a threat to the major powers and the emerging powers of the world on various levels. Globalisation simply means competition on a global scale thus, it is not enemies Nigeria needs to worry about its competition, and this competition is a cut-throat one that every country needs to raise its guard or will find itself in detrimental state. Unless Mr. Onus is not aware of it, but even Israel spied on the US and one suspects still does! The Chinese continually spy on US but no one in his right mind believe the Chinese are out to destroy the US rather it’s a competition for economic advantages, as the ultimate goal, I mean China hold a significant amount of dollars in their reserve and we know what that means if the Chinese really want to destroy the US. Again, you only need to look at the Financial Crisis of recent and see how this type of competition (greed really) have now bankrupted major financial firms in US and UK , in some cases through what is called ‘short selling,’ but its not about destruction or enemity. Lets take the issue of Niger Delta for example, there’re does that want to maintain high oil prices or other unsavory desire and will see the region as a weak link since the government does not seem to have leverage in the area. Again, if we look at what is happening in Europe with Russia/gas and Goergio and how Nigeria, as the 7th gas producers (or potentially 7th), will help both camps strengthen their interests and the temptation to interfere in our domestic politics becomes great and with a weak state that temptation because irresistible. On the hand other you also have the Chinese and the West competing against each other, and then there is Israel and all her baggage. Therefore to suggest that since we have no enemies someone our Agencies need not be proactive and somehow just wait until foreign agent provide them with information is ridiculous, in that case we might as well outsourced our secret services to foreigners! Onus again “In many countries espionage deals with obtaining commercial information from companies through covert operations; stealing technology. What technology is there in Nigeria to be stolen?” and then he later said “The technology frontier in Nigeria is in the petroleum industry, almost all of which is licensed from abroad.” This is lame when mr. Onus looks at how other 3rd world countries like Saudi Arabia protects its oil industry. “What foreign intelligence services seek in Nigeria is information about what is the reality behind the politician's bold dream of catching up with the developed world in ten or twenty years.” This is laughable, since the vision 20/20 is something that existed since the tenure of Abacha and most of the provisions in the article are simply re-hash versions of what existed before and the rump of it was worked out in western capitals and its similar to what other countries have archived or are following currently, have you seen what NEPAD is about, mr. onus? The fact is Nigeria should be wealthy as or even wealthier than Malaysia but were not! There is nothing bold about the move it is simply a matter of waking up to reality and doing what we were suppose to have done ages ago. “What is the state of the armed forces; who is in charge of the government; which group is allied to which political force; to whom should a businessman speak to get something done; how close are the politicians to being caught or punished for what they do?” Mr. Onus please get real; these are information that anyone doing any kind of serious business, commercial or otherwise will like to know and will get the answers from any Nigerian that’s knows a thing or two about politics that’s virtually everyone in Nigeria. Please which one of this questions is even remotely associated with espionage? The fact is the author of the article is right to raise such an important question and one that is at the heart of our political development, it is also clear that the author is not suggesting that the security operatives are utterly useless but rather confused and reactive rather than focus and proactive, would you really refute that! Nigeria is likely to become something like pre-revolutionary Cuba, Iran or Venezuela, this is because when one looks at these countries before their respective revolutions, the symptoms are frighteningly similar, you have an overbearing foreign influence on the elite, there is just one major source of revenue for the state, democratic forces were severely undermined and money is lord and everyone have a price…once the masses find their champion then events will take it course, we can only hope that this person is a genuine leader. Although I suspects for anyone to clean-up the country the west will view him/her with venomous suspicion just like they did Fidel. Posted by mesonigerian| 19.09.2008 12:47

M. Akosa  Villager

# 10 As someone said that Mr Sabella Abide has a way of making jokes; one reason why I really enjoy reading his articles is his sense of humor, intellect and his ways of correctly addressing issues without unnecessarily bringing in personal issues or pushing the buttons of extremes. There are too many reasons why Nigeria as a nation can never organize, manage and operate a credible and competent intelligence network. Sabella also hinted the reasons for us to see, that far too many Nigerians and their public service officials are desperate, poor, naive, worthless and too cheap to do anything at all, just to sell Nigeria down the river. Something as trivial and cheap as promises of a visa for them to Europe and North America or for their family members is too much enticement to betray their country and fellow men and women in the public services, compromise information and any knowledge they have. Thank you again Mr Sabella, for making me crack my ribs with laughter this afternoon. Posted by M. Akosa| 19.09.2008 13:24

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