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Inter-Agency Rivalry in Nigeria's Security

Inter-agency rivalry among Nigeria's security agencies undermines national security by prioritizing competition over cooperation, leading to ineffective crime combatting. Factors such as the proliferation of agencies, duplication of duties, and overlapping mandates contribute to this rivalry, resulting in inadequate protection for the general population. The lack of clear operational boundaries and collaborative frameworks exacerbates the issue, rendering these agencies liabilities rather than assets in addressing insecurity.

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53 views3 pages

Inter-Agency Rivalry in Nigeria's Security

Inter-agency rivalry among Nigeria's security agencies undermines national security by prioritizing competition over cooperation, leading to ineffective crime combatting. Factors such as the proliferation of agencies, duplication of duties, and overlapping mandates contribute to this rivalry, resulting in inadequate protection for the general population. The lack of clear operational boundaries and collaborative frameworks exacerbates the issue, rendering these agencies liabilities rather than assets in addressing insecurity.

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barajezee
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INTER-AGENCY RIVALRY: AN OBSTACLE TO COOPERATION AND

NATIONAL SECURITY.

Every country relies on multiple security agencies to safeguard


lives and property. However, persistent conflicts over supremacy,
secrecy, and competition for relevance among these agencies
undermine their primary mandate: fostering cooperation to
ensure national security. Despite this obligation, many security
agencies in Nigeria remain preoccupied with jurisdictional rivalries
rather than collaborative efforts. “ The key agencies involved
include the Department of State Services (DSS), the Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC), the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),
the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Immigration
Service (NIS), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the National
Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and
the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among
others” (Eme, 2018).

The persistent insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the northern


region, has eroded public confidence in these agencies' ability to
combat crime effectively. Instead of fulfilling their duties, many
security institutions prioritize budgetary allocations for personal
gain, exacerbating crises that demand further unplanned
expenditures. Eme (2018) corroborates this view, arguing that
security agencies in Nigeria have become liabilities rather than
assets due to overlapping mandates and duplicated functions,
which foster acrimonious rivalries. Consequently, little progress
has been made in addressing crime and insurgency.

Moreover, the proliferation of security agencies appears to worsen


insecurity, as they divert human and material resources toward
supremacy battles fueled by jurisdictional disputes, personality
clashes, and competition for operational funding. Compounding
this issue is the inadequate ratio of security personnel to the
population, leaving many communities without proactive
protection against targeted violence. Although efforts have been
made to bridge this gap through annual recruitment, a
disproportionate number of security personnel are allocated to
politicians, business elites, corporations, banks, and traditional
rulers, leaving the general population vulnerable to insecurity.

CAUSES OF INTER-AGENCY RIVALRY IN NIGERIA**

Several factors contribute to inter-agency rivalry in Nigeria,


hindering effective cooperation. According to Nwanguma (2019),
the primary causes include:

1. Unnecessary proliferation of security agencies,

2. Duplication of law enforcement duties, powers, and functions,


and

3. Overlapping mandates without clear operational boundaries.

While the duplication of duties and overlapping functions create


friction among agencies, the mere proliferation of security
institutions is not inherently problematic. Many countries
successfully manage numerous agencies through structured
coordination and regulatory frameworks. The core issue lies in the
absence of well-defined roles and collaborative mechanisms, not
the number of agencies.

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