CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA: JOS CRISIS ASSESSMENT
Adebayo, Olusegun Alaba
Faculty of Education, Department of Military Education Studies, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna
ABSTRACT
The security challenges in Nigeria informed this study titled “Conflict Management and National Security in Nigeria: Jos Crisis in View”. The study examined the effect of Jos crisis management mechanism on national security in Nigeria. The research works methodology adopted descriptive and Field survey method for collection data from primary and secondary sources, through unstructured interviews and archival materials respectively. Data collected were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage which were presented with the aids of tables and charts. The paper work established that there is a direct, strong and sufficient relationship between conflict management and national security in Nigeria. It also revealed that there are some challenges militating against the management of Jos crisis to enhance national security in Nigeria. Some of the identified challenges include poor crisis monitoring and intelligence gathering, insufficient public support and poor governance. Others are logistic constrain and non-implementation of Commission of Inquiry reports. The prospects identified were; media parley, re-constituted plateau state inter-religious council for peace and harmony and re-structured operation SAFE HAVEN and Operation RAINBOW.
The strategies proffered to mitigate the challenges include effective intelligence gathering and monitoring, confidence building measures and political will. Others are logistics support and implementation of the reports of Commissions of Inquiry. It was recommended that Plateau State Government should mobilize the vigilante and the neighborhood watch in the communities by establishing a Joint and Multi-Agency Headquarter for effective intelligence network and early warning on the Jos crisis. The study also recommended that Plateau State Government should establish a periodic expanded security meeting with major Civil Society Organizations and International Humanitarian partners for security update in the warring communities. The Defence Headquarters should also embark on Quick Impact Project and periodic medical outreach services to less privileged communities for confidence building and public support to security agencies. It is also recommended that Defence Headquarters should constitute a committee drawn from all security agencies involved in the management of the Jos crisis to workout logistic requirement for operation SAFE HAVEN and RAINBOW for replenishment. Finally, Plateau State Government should liaise with the Federal Government of Nigeria to constitute a panel to review the various recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry for implementation.
Keywords: Conflict Management, National Security, Crisis, Plateau State, Multi-Agency, SAFE HAVEN and Operation Rainbow.
IMPACT STATEMENT
The conflict in Jos is deeply rooted in the historical process by which the city emerged and developed. Jos (the tin city) is a cosmopolitan city and capital of Plateau State, popularly known as the home of peace and tourism in Nigeria. Plateau State with a population of 5.5 million was created on 3 February 1976. It is located in the middle belt region of Nigeria and occupies a scenic plateau environment. The state has 17 LGAs amongst which Jos is the state capital. Plateau has a good agricultural soil and grazing land for cattle rearing and endowed with some solid minerals. The discovery of large deposit of tin in Jos in 1902 ranked Nigeria the 6th largest producer of tin in the world.
The effective management and resolution of any conflict depends on the cooperation of parties involved and the intervention mechanism put in place to achieve peace to enhance national security. National security entails the ability to preserve the physical integrity of a nation for effective protection of lives and property, as well as the freedom of individuals to pursue and maintain legitimate aspirations and national objectives. This also involves measures taken by a state to ensure its survival, as well as the protection and wellbeing of its citizens despite varying interest. Therefore, nations develop conflict management strategies to maintain peace for enhanced national security.
About Author
OLUSEGUN ALABA ADEBAYO is Societal Criminologist with qualifications NCE, ND, HND, PGD, M. Sc (Criminology), and working as FACULTY OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY EDUCATION STUDIES NIGERIA, AIRFORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KADUNA.
LIST OF ACADEMIC ARTICLES PUBLISHED WITH DATES:
1.Curbing Substance use and Addiction as a catalyst in preventing criminality in Tertiary Institution’’ One Day International Multidisciplinary Conference on “Emerging Trends & Challenges in Humanities, Education, Science and Social Sciences” on March 25, 2022, in Auditorium, Gandhi Memorial National College, Ambala Cantt. India. 2022.
2. The Impact of Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) on the Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary School in Gwagwalada Area Council of Federal Capital Territory Abuja (GLOBAL JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH FORUM) Multi-Disciplinary Page 52. 2021.
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