An educationist, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, has urged the Federal Government to adopt multi-level policing, also known as state police, to address insecurity in Nigeria.

Aremu, also the Director, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan, made the plea at a two-day 2nd International Conference on Science, Technology, Engineering and Humanities (ICSTEH).

It was organised by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology Chapter, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the conference is: “Technology Applications and Management for Global Security’’.

Aremu spoke on: “Insecurity and Our Collective Failure: Reappraising Security Architecture for National Stability.’’
He said insecurity in Nigeria was multi-faceted, adding that the establishment of state police would address the challenge.

“There is no doubt that ours is a country with daunting security challenges. The insecurity in Nigeria is massive, multifarious and in diverse shades.

“For over two decades, there has been several calls by stakeholders, especially security experts and public opinions on the need to review the national policing architecture.

“Given its archaic policing strategies that are at variance with international best practices and current insecurity realities.

“Nigeria has, for long, deliberately got so many things wrong from independence.

“One of such crucial things is the floundering nature of unitary police bequeathed to the country which has hindered the nation’s federalism,’’ he said.

Aremu said many developed countries had adopted multi-level policing to fight crimes and insecurity, urging Nigeria to follow the same vain.

He said state police was the only way to go in the 21st century to reduce crimes, insecurity, kidnapping, terrorism and other vices confronting the country.

The educationist said that police in Nigeria were not capable of contending with the gale of terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping in the country.

“For a long time, the national police, as presently practiced in Nigeria, fractured in many ways, primarily security, and also renders same ineffective given visibility limitations and culture of incompetence, among other things.

 

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“The federal police is also limited in many ways and not in tandem with the present security challenges and realities of the country.

“The bad thing is we are in serious security challenge and tension is increasingly building everywhere.

“One is not even sure of secured places, because the current insecurity discrepancies in our country, places like churches, mosques, higher institutions are no longer secured.

“The country should begin to address critical policy issues that will culminates in the establishment of multi-level policing.

“To achieve all these, all hands must be on deck. We are canvassing for the multi-level police.

“I am an unrepentant advocate of the establishment of a state police,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, Rector of the college, commended the academic union for organising the conference to discuss issues that was relevant and affecting the nation.

Omokungbe urged participants to come up with recommendations that would help to address insecurity in the country.

He said insecurity was a mirage that must be quickly tackled.

Also, Dr Oyeniran Adigun, Chairman, Organising Committee, said that currently, the entire West African region had been facing security challenges and threats, which requires new ways to solve them.

Adigun said indeed, ensuring sustained peace and security in strategic and essential measures to safeguarding the productive process of stability at the regional level.

“The 2nd annual academic conference was to explore how technology, entrepreneurship, science, engineering and humanities can be effectively deployed in solving insecurity and economic development of our nation,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Nureni Yekini, ASUP Chairman, Yabatech chapter, said that the conference was organised in the interest of members of the union and the college community.

Yekini said all the papers presented in the maiden edition in 2018 were available online, adding that some were used for promotion from one cadre to another.

He said the conference had gone a long way to promote visibility of the college globally, as search for information on Internet, using any of the keywords of the paper presented at the conference.

“The keynote of this year conference was chosen by the union, as the national development and unity of the country were being threatened by insecurity of life and property,” he said. (NAN)

The management of Adamawa State University, Mubi, has recounted how the institution emerged from Boko Haram occupation of its campus between 2014 and 2015 besides two other crippling challenges to attain 98 percent of its courses duly accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Kaletapwa Farauta, spoke when the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid a courtesy call on the university management.

He stated that Boko Haram invasion and destruction of facilities was followed not long after resumption of academic activities in 2015 by long drawn disharmony between management and staff over entitlements and reduction in allocation to the university in 2017.

She added that the university has weathered the storms through innovation and personal sacrifices by all members of management and staff.

“This is the only university in the country where the insurgents gained entrance and sat where we are sitting today (Senate Building). The entire university was overrun, with buildings badly damaged and office equipment, furniture, vehicles destroyed or stolen,” she recounted.

Farauta, who became acting VC in 2017, said she and other members of management who were appointed in place of a dismissed management team at the time over unending conflicts that involved management, staff and even students, met a polarized university.

She added that the crisis-ridden environment was made worse by a cut in the subvention by the state government to the university.

She recalled: “Before July 2017, the percentage of allocation coming to this university was 5%. From the day I walked in here as the acting vice chancellor (July 20, 2017), it was reduced to 3%.

Explaining some of what have been the university’s surviving strategies, she mentioned prudent management of resources and innovation with accreditation by which the university uses internal staff to conduct mock accreditation exercises in preparation of courses for NUC’s accreditation, among other strategies.

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She disclosed that of the 2% of courses yet to be accredited by the NUC, seven are set for NUC’s visitation, namely Mass Communication, Biochemistry, History, languages, Micro Biology, Biochemistry, Geology and Business Administration.

The state Chairman of the NUJ, Mr Ishaka Dedan, who led other executives of the union on the courtesy visit to the university, appealed for admissions for members of the union seeking such opportunity.

He pleaded they be granted rebate to enable them take advantage of the favour.

“We have about 400 members in the state council of the NUJ. Many of this number got into the profession with diploma certificates. Those who may wish to come for higher qualifications, please open your doors to us,” Dedan said.

He promised the university fair reporting of its events and issues by NUJ members in line with the union’s resolve to partner the university for a mutually benefitting relationship.