One of the major threat anyone can experience here on earth is a threat to life. It takes been alive in a safe m, secured and sane manner to really make do and be the best in life. Security is one of the basics of human need and is one of the major duty of the government of any nation to provide security for all and sundry. One of the major setback a country can experience is a breach of security or inefficient security architecture leading to chaos and commotion thereby leading to loss of anykind be it life, properties, economic and so on.
My country is a relatively safe and good place to live in though encountered some major security challenges in the last two decades. For example, we experienced the Boko Haram insurgence, the herdsmen-farmers clashes/kidnappings, the mineral resources exploration theft and bunkering especially in the affected town and many others. Also, because of high cost of living, poverty, loss of job, social irresponsibility/decadence, alot of security related issues were encountered with all these as contributing factors.
Also, my country experienced some major elections in recent years where there were alot of security challenges as a result of the political class making use of young naive and innocent young ones to engage in thuggery, ballot snatching, killings by empowering them with weapons. In addition, there were security breaches and compromise by the security operatives at all levels due to corruption, insufficient manpower, inadequate empowerment with sophiscated gadgets and weapons etc. All these points are the major attributes to security issues in my country.
We can't neglect the ethnic agitations and the religious influences which led to security issues in some major parts of my country. However, it is good to note that despite al these, my country is relatively safe and good to live in as it is worthy of note to know that security issues is across all countries though the degree varies. There have been many national and international programs organised in Nigeria by the private and public sectors where different people from all over the world attended and were safe. Being multicultural and multitribal, there have been alot of festivals and attraction points where tourists do come for a visit. For example, Osun Osogbo festival and Osun Groove which is a UNESCO heritage site, the Ojude Oba festival which was recently held and similar others.
Nigeria been the economic giant of West Africa, investors from all over the world are in Nigeria and been a country with good reception for foreigners, hadly is there a state without some foreigners though concentrated in the major economic cities of the nation like Lagos, Porthacourt and others. All these ones are safe and doing fine which shows how relatively safe Nigeria is. Though there are areas of high security concerns especially some part of the northwest and north east regions, the border areas and the south east region. I believe the security issues can be well managed by a concerted collaborative efforts of the government and individuals.
The individuals needs to be security concious and avoid anything that may led to security breaches in anyway and for any reason. The nation security starts from grassroots and hence, the need to involve the traditional rulers in a robust and efficient security network with each held responsible for security breaches in their community. The government has now enabled the state to have a state police as obtainable in developed countries which is a welcomed development. There are also regional security networks like the Àmòtékùn in southwest region, the Ebubeagu of the southeast and others. Also, the salary of some of the country's security operatives were increased and some provided with a better package.
The government needs to do more by restructuring the security outfit of the nation through a just recruitment of security personnels rather than bias/preferences and employing adequate numbers with good empowerment. Adequate provision of jobs to the citizens will positively engage the youths because "the idle hand is the devil's workshop". The use of political thugs should be banned and the private security outfits should be well controlled by the government. The government should look intently at the mining/exploration sites and provide adequate security there for both citizens and foreigners. I believe if our leaders can be selfless enough and truly provides the dividend of democracy to the people as they ought to, security related issues would be well managed.
The various news about my countries security and safety seen online can be true while some can be falsified or claimed as "fake news" and hence, the need to verify every information before circulation or believed in. Nigeria been a populous country in Africa with multi languages, cultures, ethnicity and religion can be said by me to be relatively peaceful which i believe can be better security-wise by concerted efforts by both individuals and government. I love my country. Thanks for reading even as comments, contributions and suggestions are highly welcomed.
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