Security expert canvasses synergy between agencies, private practitioners

A security expert, Mr. Bone Efoziem has called for synergy between private security practitioners and state security agencies. Efoziem who is the Managing Director of Strict Guards Security Limited noted that it is only with such collaboration that the security challenges confronting the nation could be ameliorated.

He spoke with reporters at the 49th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he obtained a Masters Degree in Security and Intelligence Studies.He said: “The Nigeria security industry is very much untapped and it seems like this is a call to address the challenges.  The course is tailored towards grooming people that will better manage the security of the nation, a situation where they are training professionals in security management. It has domiciled my knowledge of the Nigerian security challenges to what is currently in our environment and ways to curbing the security menace troubling our nation.

“Our people are yet to understand that security, primarily should be proactive and I have come to realise through this course that making proactive security arrangements is much better. Starting from my local area, I will begin to give professional advice and reach out to those in authority to proffer solutions. I will organise programmes and symposiums that will encourage people to be more concerned with their environment as it relates to security and safety.”

On the synergy between security agencies and private practitioners he said, “Anything done in isolation never works. There are benefits in working together. Already, this course alone gives room for networking. In my class, we had serving customs and police officers.”

An Assistant Controller of Customs, Garuba Kakudi, who also spoke on the benefits of the course to his knowledge of security, said he would channel what he learnt to the betterment of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He said, “With my security background, this training helped me build my capacity in security knowledge and enhance our operational systems. We have over 700 borders to be manned and the government is trying its best but the vast landscape of our terrains makes it difficult. However, putting facilities in place to checkmate smugglers is key because when you block one porous border to smugglers, they find another route.

“Thus, we need more facilities and equipment like scanners and sniffer dogs in place. Already, some of our scanners are obsolete. Also, we need to train and retrain our personnel.”Another graduate of the department, the CEO of Bulwark Vault and Safety, Akanle Olarenwaju said the course created more awareness to him, security wise, adding that people are not security conscious.The class captain, Mr. Adegbola Johnson, who is also attached to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, harped on how the course broadened his horizon.