1. I want to appreciate the organizers of this year's Kataf Youth Christian Association (KYCA) 2015 National Conference for finding me worthy to be invited to deliver a lecture titled "Contemporary Security Challenges in Nigeria: The Way Forward" to this lovely audience who are my beloved in the Lord. I am highly delighted and honoured to be in your mist and I welcome you all in the name of our Lord Jesus. It is also my belief that, I was chosen to deliver this important lectures not because I am most qualified, but possibly as a result of my military background. I do not also think that, I am here to provide solutions to the myriads of contemporary security challenges bedeviling our country Nigeria, but to provide a platform to provoke further thoughts and discussions on the subject. Once more, permit me to thank the organizers for allowing me to moderate the topic to read" Contemporary security challenges in Nigeria" instead of in the “World". To my mind, the choice of the topic wouldn't have come at a better time considering the volume of security threats facing the world, our country Nigeria and by extension Kaduna State and even your community the Kataf nation.
2. The Post-cold war era of 1989 which saw the demise of the Soviet Union and the September 11, 2011 bombing of the World Trade Centre, New York in the United States of America (USA) gave a new definition to global or international security challenges. This was a departure from the definition agreed upon at the Westphalia Conference in 1648 in Germany where nations were allowed to handle their individual security as independent body without external interference. The new world order spearheaded by the USA after the Post-cold war and the Sept 11 episode in USA allowed for international intervention in the security affairs of the less powerful states. Consequently, a new global or international definition of security challenges was evolved to mean "the amalgamation of measures taken by nations or international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) among others to ensure mutual survival and safety". These measures include; military actions, unrelenting pressures and diplomacy aimed at fostering peace, freedom and unity globally. The new world order provided the platform for the USA to unilaterally interfere with the affairs of other weaker nations even when such decision is against the UN Security Resolutions. The USA bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 and her assault on Iraq (Gulf war) in 2003 among others were pointers to this new definition of global security challenges.
3. In Africa, most countries are plaque with various security challenges by violent extremist organizations. African security situation is compounded by her inability to properly monitor, interdict and prevent these extremist organizations from taking their sovereign nations hostage. Some of these organizations include; al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Jihad in West Africa especially in Northern Mali, al-Shabaab in Somalia, the Lord Resistance Army(LRA) which
have operated in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Boko Haram in Nigeria to mention but a few. These violent extremist organizations have held the African nations to ransom thus resulting in under development. The African Union (AU) the main continental regulatory body lacks the capacity and bite to set African nations free from the backwardness occasioned by these insurgent groups.
4 In our dear country Nigeria, the unfolding contemporary security drama since the present democratic dispensation came on board in 1999 has generated a lot of concern about the future of the nation. This is evidenced from the graduating regimes of violent crimes evolving from ethno-religious and socio-political conflicts and other form of vices. The insurgency situation in the North eastern part of Nigeria referred to as Boko Haram has created a lot of phobia in our national cirque resulting in mutual suspicions thus undermining our national cohesion. Consequently, socio-economic activities have been in comatose especially in the North. This security challenge posed by the Boko Haram has dominated every facets of our national live since 2007 after the killing of its leader Mallam Yusuf in Maiduguri. The capacity of Nigeria as a nation to contend with Boko Haram and other forms of security challenge fell below the expectations of an average citizen. Concerned individuals, analysts and commentators differ in their opinions to unravel the origin and motives behind the activities of the Boko Haram sect and other social ills in Nigeria in an attempt to proffer solutions. It is my belief that, this same need and concern propel and motivate the (KYCA) to organize these lectures to discuss the issues surrounding the contemporary security challenges facing our nation Nigeria.
5. The aim of this paper is to discuss the contemporary security challenges in Nigeria with the view to charting a way forward.
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