The Role of Security in Foreign Investment & the Economy as a Whole

Presented By Mr. Olumide Ohunayo
At the Zonal Security Seminar with the Theme-
“Security Awareness Creation – The Way Forward”
15th – 17th December, 2010 @ the Confluence Beach Hotel,
Lokoja – Kogi State
Obligation of a State
 The primary obligation of a state has always been and will continue to be the provision of security. The quest for security has always been an issue of concern in human existence. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is no exception as our constitution as stated this loudly; Section 14 Subsection 2 (b) of the 1999, constitution, states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose and responsibility of the government.”
To Attract Foreign Investments
 The State need to have sound economic and fiscal policies in place, coupled with infrastructural development, in a safe and secured environment.
 The state must protect people from physical or psychological violence, whether from individuals, state or external state.
 The state must protect people from short & long term ravages of nature, man made threats in nature and the deterioration of the natural environment.
 The state must have a national security programme which basically maintains the cohesion of a nation –state through the use of economic, military and political power mingled with diplomacy.
Measures Taken by Nation-States to Ensure National Security:
 Using intelligence services to detect, defeat or avoid threats and espionage
 Protect classified information
 Protect the nation from internal threats
 Maintaining an effective armed forces
 Implementing civil defence and emergency preparedness
 Using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats
 Marshaling economic power to facilitate or compel cooperation
 Legislating in tandem with international community (Anti –terror bill)
National Security (Nigeria’s Position or Wish?)
 Our national defence policy; sees national security as an all encompassing condition in which citizens can live in freedom, peace and safety, participate fully in the protection of fundamental rights, have access to resources, necessities of life and inhabit an environment that is conducive to their health and well being.

 A grand strategy – is the aggregate of the security interests of all individuals, communities, ethnic groups, political entities and the prosperity of individuals and institutions within Nigeria and what belongs to Nigeria and Nigerians abroad.
Structures Put in Place by Government to Enhance Security
 Nigeria Police
 The Armed forces
 Nigeria Intelligence Agency
 State Security Services
 Nigeria Immigration Service
 Nigeria Custom Service
 Nigeria Prison Services
 Nigeria Civil Defence Corps
 Federal Road Safety Corps
 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
 Economic & Financial Crime Commission
 Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission
 The Judiciary
 The Legislature
 Vibrant & Proactive Foreign Policy
 The Media
 The Executive
 (Other agencies NAFDAC, NCAA and NCC)
How to Overcome the Challenges
 Government should consider joint security programme with all tiers of government
 Promote a culture of religious and ethnic tolerance
 Improve cooperation and coordination between the different agencies and their foreign counterpart
 Effective poverty eradication programme
 Unrelenting war against corruption at all levels
 Promotion of bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation through diplomacy
 Adequate and alternate funding of the relevant agencies
 Proactive and preventive intelligence gathering
 Good governance supported by transparent elections and succession
 Provision of energy, power supply with efficient road network backed by alternate modes.
Conclusion

 Foreign investment is the tonic needed to drive a country’s economy, in driving that economy you are inadvertently eliminating poverty, unemployment and corruption. These axis of evil, breeds insecurity, unrest and generally makes a country unsafe. Therefore we must ensure we keep our country safe and security conscious always.

 Thank You for Your Attention