In search of what is security and whose responsibility should be security in Nigeria

Abstract

This study engaged critical security theory to examine what should be security in Nigeria given the fixation with the work of the military, intelligence, and law enforcement (MILE) as security. This is in light of the democratic transition of the last almost quarter century and the need to construct or reconstruct security in the image of civil democracy. It equally looks at the lack of clarity on who has the responsibility to provide security in Nigeria. The study adopts the exploratory research design with reliance on secondary data through the examination of the literature on what security is and whose responsibility it is to be accountable for security. Findings from the study reveal that Nigeria does not have a clear definition of what security and security issues mean apart from seeing security as the work of the military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies. Equally, revealed is that both the Constitution and various Laws do not indicate what security is and who has to be responsible for ensuring the security of the citizens of the country, even as section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution merely states that security and welfare of the citizen shall be the primary purpose of government without further specification. The study concludes that security should be the welfare and well-being of the people in line with the mandates of civil rule and governance. Thus, economic development should be a major driver of security as its attainment will lead to the welfare and well-being of citizens. Consequently, the study recommends that the Constitution (as amended) should be subject to further amendments to clearly define security as the well-being and welfare of citizens and that the three tiers of government; local, state, and federal have the responsibility to provide security to citizens, through all their policies.