In this piece, Jide Babalola takes a look at the appointment of the new DSS chief and the challenges before him.
Beyond doubt, various recent developments have turned many Nigerians into either active or passive monitors, following whatever spills into the public domain about the leadership and operations of the nation’s apex domestic secret service.
Constitutionally created as the SSS but also known as the DSS, Nigeria’s premier domestic intelligence-gathering agency derives its mandate from the National Security Agencies Act of 1986 (Decree 19) and the Presidential Proclamation; SSS Instrument I of 1999. Under Decree 19, the now-defunct National Security Organisation (NSO) was split into three by the Ibrahim Babangida administration, with the DSS being made responsible for domestic intelligence. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) handles external intelligence and counterintelligence while the third, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) became responsible for military-related intelligence within and outside the country.
Since its creation thirty-two years ago, the personality of each successive head of Nigeria’s secret service has tended to reflect upon the public image of the organization but its core professional focus subsists and this largely covers the security of the state and the protection of senior government officials, particularly the President and state governors.
Much has been said by critics of Bichi’s appointment as DSS DG and the big question mark being posed to the issue of ethnic and geographical balancing in critical public appointments. Much too, has been expressed by others who emphasize that only core issues of professionalism and loyalty to both state and President should matter when it comes to the issue of the headship of an organization like the DSS.
Before the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as Director-General of the DSS on September 14, this year, his predecessors under the current democratic dispensation were: Colonel Kayode Are (Rtd) who was DG from 1999 – August, 2007; Afakriya Gadzama (August, 2007- September, 2010; Ita Ekpeyong (September, 2010 to July, 2015); Lawal Musa Daura (July, 2015 – August, 2018; and, Matthew Seiyefa (August, 7, 2018 – September 13, 2018).
The new spymaster
When Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the 62-year- old spy chief from Kano State who was formerly a Director at the DSS Academy was announced as the new Director General, the groundswell of opposition wasn’t unexpected. Nigeria, a country known for large divisions along, ethnic and religious lines and where it has almost become a norm to sacrifice competence on the altar of regional and religious bias witnessed reactions.
According to the statement from presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the appointee is a core Secret Service operative who began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the DSS. “Mr. Bichi has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.
“The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter- intelligence and protective operation and human resources management. In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi has worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States and he was at various times, the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.”
Such laudable professional track record was not adequate to stop ensuing criticisms. The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum attributed it to mere nepotism, with Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Reno Omokri, Donald Duke, Femi Fani-Kayode expressing similar sentiments.
The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) entered the fray with a condemnation of the barrage of criticisms over the appointment of Bichi by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that the president made a perfect· choice. According to its Director of Communications and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the appointment was in order. “Before those who specialise in finding faults continue· to wag their tongues, they should realize that Yusuf Magaji Bichi is a consummate· professional who has been a big· asset· to the Nigerian intelligence· community. What one would have· expected from the arm· chair critics is to ask· if he is qualified. Instead, they have· once again chosen to play· the regional card. If someone· is qualified for a job· why not allow· him do· it, no matter· the region· he is from?”
Speaking with The Nation on Sunday, Dr. Evaristus (other names withheld on request), an expert in Military Intelligence who also works as a security consultant in the Middle East expressed disappointment with those on either sides of the argument for trifling with important issues of national interest with their preoccupation over more or less political considerations. According to the ex-military officer, professional competence, loyalty to Nigeria and the President should be the criteria of assessment towards getting a performer who can motivate his subordinates towards confronting evolving national security challenges.
Emphasizing the need for Bichi to ensure professionalism par excellence, he also noted that in Nigeria’s recent past as well as in other parts of the globe, the President’s personal considerations of loyalty seriously influences whom to pick among a host of qualified personnel for headship of the national intelligence outfits.
“There are very pressing priorities and the country must move its security architecture forward through complex restructuring against existing security challenges. Having a competent head of the security service who also enjoys the loyalty of the President eases the task for the organization and its personnel,” he stated.
Security challenges
According to the Chairman of American Society for Industrial Security Mr. Ubong King, who is also the CEO of Protection Plus Services Limited, insecurity is defined as “the state· of fear· or anxiety, stemming from a concrete or alleged lack· of protection.” It refers to lack or inadequate freedom from danger. This definition reflects physical insecurity which is the most visible form of insecurity, and it feeds into many other forms of insecurity such as economic security and social security.
Security and development are deeply interconnected as insecurity deeply impacts the economy, education, health and other areas where adverse consequences are felt. Aside from draining resources meant for development infrastructure and the populace’ welfare, insecurity causes displacement, mass anxiety and other negative effects on the peoples’ well-being.
Afore and beyond Boko Haram terrorism, domestic intelligence experts and foreign observers have identified a host of security challenges over the years and these are broadly caused by internal factors within the country such as ethno-religious tensions, pervasive material inequalities and unfairness, lack of adequate institutional capacity/infrastructures, conflict of perceptions between the public and government, loss of socio-cultural and communal value system, porous borders, intense rural/urban drift, poverty/unemployment and so on.
Insecurity has been a huge blockade to business investment and progress. In a study on the investment climate in nine African countries, the World Bank found that 29 % of business operators in Africa and 36 % in Nigeria perceived insecurity as a major constraint on investment.
Overcoming insecurity necessitates optimized intelligence-gathering and surveillance so that law enforcement agents could be proactive and reasonably predict potential crime with near perfect accuracy rather than being reactive by doing post-damage responses. Thus, government and the entire Nigerian society must not only continue to engage the security personnel; government also needs to devote more attention to security intelligence, capacity- building to meet the global best practice standard and acquisition of modern technology that enables much to be done digitally instead of manual procedures.
There is also the need to modernize the security agencies with training, intelligence-sharing, advanced technology, logistics, motivation and change of orientation. This effort will enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigeria security agencies by identifying avenues that would enable them respond appropriately to internal security challenges and other threats. Nigeria deserves such rapid and deep evolution that can further draw its intelligence-gathering and security agencies towards global best practices and the need for competent, professional leadership of such agencies should override other considerations.
Criminology experts easily acknowledge that there is no mono-causal explanation for crime or insecurity as the cause tends to be interwoven or contributory to one another.
Moving forward
Nigeria’s unique characteristics make it imperative to observe all the elements of balance but there are few issues that deserve to be beyond the dictates of narrow politics and sentiments – security is one of such.
With complex security threats posed by terrorists in the Northeast, kidnappers, armed robbers and other sundry criminals continuously creeping out of the woodworks across Nigeria during a critical period of preparations for national elections, the DSS has its hands full already and the need for the organization to consistently prove itself before a sceptical public only adds a bit to its statutory burden.
Suffices to say that, successive presidents have only appointed those they know would be loyal to their cause.
With the latest appointment of Bichi as the new Director-General of Department of State Service, President Buhari is been alleged to be sectional, appointing mainly northerners to man the security apparatus of the nation. However, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says it should not be perceived that way, stressing that critics should stop focusing only on the security sector in their assessment. “Those talking about balancing and federal character should stop focusing on one aspect. Let us see how many Permanent Secretaries, Director-Generals and Executive Directors and Heads of Parastatals we have in Nigeria today and where they come from. This will give us a more insight to the fact that this administration is not lopsided in appointments. We should stop looking at only one side to make our judgment and anywhere we notice any lopsidedness, government will correct it,” he said.
Nonetheless, the priority before the new head of DSS should be how to make a success of his new task. The task before the new spy chief is clear-cut – fix the depreciating reputation of the agency, among other things. Mr. Bichi appears to be aware of the task ahead and has upon assumption of office, restated in unambiguous terms his desire to take the service to a new height.
In his first address to DSS management cadre at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, Bichi called for members’ support, while also calling for stronger ties among the staff. More encouraging was his pledge to work with every member of staff towards building a formidable team. In his words, “my vision is to build a well-disciplined, professional and highly motivated DSS with particular reference to staff welfare.” He also restated his commitment towards supporting the government’s agenda on rebuilding the economy, stamping out insecurity and fighting corruption. He further implored the staff to refocus their intelligence collection efforts in this direction.
His words were reassuring, especially as the country goes into the 2019 general elections and the usual challenges that an election year brings with it in our peculiar environment.
Nigeria can and must overcome its evolving security challenges; it is the duty of the DSS to lead in making a success of this aspiration towards giving Nigerians an atmosphere that can engender genuine development and progress.
As it continues the usual processes of adapting to various roles necessitated by evolving security threats in Nigeria, including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts, the DSS has a duty to live up to citizens’ expectations as well as its statutory mission of protecting and defending the Federal Republic of Nigeria against domestic threats, upholding and enforcing the criminal· laws of Nigeria under a democratic ethos.