Enhancing National Security through Strategic Communication: The SCIPC Model, by Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Enhancing National Security through Strategic Communication: The SCIPC Model

By MUKHTAR Ya’u Madobi

In order to respond appropriately to the currently emerging nationwide security challenges, the updated version of Nigeria’s National Security Strategy (NNS) 2019 emphasized that the country will integrate Strategic Communication in all priority areas as part of measures towards realizing the national security objectives.

These areas included but were not limited to public relations, public diplomacy, information operations and psychological operations to advance Nigeria’s national values, and interests, and in dealing with social, political, economic and security threats.

This necessitated the establishment of the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) saddled with the responsibility of devising and implementing communication strategies to achieve this mandate.

It is no longer a new happening that terrorists and other criminals have since resorted to leveraging media and communication platforms (especially social media) to target our national values and people in an attempt to undermine national security.

It is against this background that the National Security Adviser (NSA ) Malam Nuhu Ribadu, noted that social media have become a priority and issue of national security that the country can no longer treat with levity.

Ribadu stated this in late April at a maiden meeting with spokespersons of security, military, intelligence communities, response and emergency agencies under the umbrella of the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC).

According to the NSA, negative use of social media constituted both local and global threats as such he enjoined the members of the SCIPC to always be proactive and strategic in national security communication management.

During its maiden press briefing on national security matters, the SCIPC highlighted the giant strides of the troops and personnel efforts across all the nation’s security architectures toward tackling insecurity.

In his remarks, the Head, of Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Usman Mijinyawa has attributed robust interagency collaborations to successes in the ongoing security operations across the country.

He said the robust interagency collaboration, ensured that security operations were comprehensive, strategic, and effective.

Giving an update on activities in the security circle, he said ONSA has been pivotal in coordinating national security strategies and ensuring synergy among various security agencies. This, was not surprising when the spokespersons of various security agencies revealed the quantum of successes recorded during the period under review.

For example, Mijinyawa disclosed that as part of counter-terrorism and insurgency operations, Nigerian troops have neutralized 9,303 insurgents, arrested 6,998 individuals, and rescued 4,641 hostages. Notably, 9,562 Boko Haram/ISWAP combatant fighters and their families surrendered to security forces.

Also, in the fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta region, 1,437 perpetrators were apprehended, 363 neutralized while another  245 kidnapped hostages were rescued, leading to a marked decrease in oil theft and bunkering activities in the area.

For their part, the Nigerian Police Force within the year apprehended 4,796 armed robbery suspects, 3,068 kidnap suspects and 2,474 suspects for rape and other sexual-related crimes. The Force also prosecuted 29,052 cases within the year and secured the conviction of 16,200 suspects.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the other hand foiled 48 attacks/kidnap attempts on schools and dismantled over 1,975 illegal mining sites across the country. Subsequently, 165 illegal local refineries were uncovered and dismantled within the period under review by the corps.

He added that the Department of State Service (DSS) and other intelligence communities have been playing a critical role in safeguarding national security through intelligence gathering and covert operations, again enabled by seamless interagency coordination.

“Successful intelligence-led operations have prevented numerous terrorist attacks and criminal activities. High-profile terrorist commanders and their associates were apprehended across multiple states, preventing potential catastrophic incidents. Confiscations included illegal items such as IEDs, firearms, ammunition, and dangerous psychoactive substances,” he said.

While generating an exceptional revenue of about N4 trillion the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with sister agencies through anti-smuggling efforts made a significant seizure of contraband goods, illegal arms, and narcotics.

“Over 21,000 pump action cartridges, 440 pump action rifles, and 228,741 rounds of ammunition were seized, preventing potential attacks by recovering suicide jackets and lethal weapons,” Mijinyawa said.

It is gratifying that the intelligence community has continued to provide both foreign and domestic intelligence services that are timely and actionable to the Government. Abroad, Intelligence activities track dissidents and secessionists, and transnational organized crime involving Nigerians such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, and immigration-related crimes.

Similarly, in the past year, the Nigerian Correctional Service has focused on enhancing custodial practices which play a pivotal role in law enforcement, ensuring the proper care, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates into society. Key achievements include enhanced inmate training and productivity, increased revenue from Correctional Farm centers and Vocational Skill Workshops, and educational advancements for inmates.

In terms of the fight against financial misappropriation, the lead agencies in the fight against corrupt practices mainly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) have played a significant role in maintaining law and order through their anti-corruption initiatives. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made significant progress in the fight against economic and financial crimes, securing 3,412 convictions and recovering vast sums of money both in local and foreign denominations. Also, ICPC has secured convictions of various individuals for fund embezzlement.

With this development’s giant strides, it is obvious that the impacts of SCIPC in reshaping Nigeria’s security sector can never be overemphasized as it continued to execute its enshrined mandates as outlined in the NSS 2019 which is currently under review.

To that effect, the SCIPC will continue to identify, assess and strengthen government communication assets and ensure mobilization of such assets in support of national security interests. The committee will also strengthen the capacity of government communication staff to effectively align

their tasks to national strategic goals and objectives through training and capacity building among others.

Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi, an NDA research student, is the author of “National Security Strategies: A Young Writer’s Perspective.” Email: [email protected]