CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION FOR SUSTAINABLE SECURITY IN NIGERIA

 Between the 28th and 30th of March 2022, I was the anchor at the three-day parley in Abuja by the Conference of Civil Society in Nigeria. The convener was Comrade Adams Otakwu. The theme of the conference was: 'Civil-military cooperation (CIMICO) for maximum security in Nigeria'. Some of the participants are:

*Dame Paulin Tallen - Minister of Women Affairs

*Boss Mustapha (Rep. by Mrs. Fowowe Ogunboye, Special Services Office) - Secretary to the Govt. of the Federation (SGF)

*Gen. Lucky Irabor (Represented by Rear Admiral A.O. Ayobanjo) - Chief of Defense Staff

*Maj. Gen. Parker Undiandeye - Director, Psychological Warfare, Dept. of Civil-Military Cooperation, Defense Headquarters

*Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya (Rep. by Brig. Gen. o. Adegbe) - Chief of Army Staff

*Vice Admiral Awa Gambo  - Chief of Naval Staff

*Air Marshall Isiaka Amao (Rep. by Air Commodore A.E. Nweke, Director, Civil-Military Relations, NAF) - Chief of Air Staff

*DCP Oyeniyi Yemi John - Rep. IG of Police

*ACP Marcus Ishaku 

*Osaigbovo Ehis (Press Secretary to Minister of Police Affairs) - Rep. Minister of Police Affairs

*Amb. Nuhu Mohammed - Nigeria's Permanent Representative to ECOWAS

*Ms. Ene Ede - ED, Equity Advocates

*Barr. Mohammed Abubakar - Fmr. Governor of Bauchi state/Conference Chairman

*Comrade Adams Otakwu - Convener, Conference of Civil Society of Nigeria

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Independent Conflict Transformation Strategist/Event Anchor

*Ms. Solene Dujo - Representative of the French Embassy

*Col Shakes Mashalaba - Defense Adviser, South Africa High Commission

*Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi (mni) (Represented by AACG David Abi (fsi) - Commandant, NSCDC

*Kenneth Iheasirim (mni) - Rep. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

*Dr. Mohammed Auwal - Moderator

*Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa Rtd. (Rep. by Chigbu Chilee,  Deputy Commander, Narcotics) - Chairman, NDLEA

*Tony Njoku Esq. (Rep. by Benedict Agu, SA to ES & Head of Monitoring Dept, NHRC) - ES, NHRC

*Hajia Hadiza Abubakar, ED Broad Sustainable Women Empowerment Programme (BISWIP) - Special guest 

The conference sub-themes are:

*Contours of Civil-Military Cooperation & Collaboration in Nigeria: Identifying gaps & re-calibrating strategies for maximum security.

*Identifying & Curbing Foreign Threats To Internal Security Through Civil-Military Cooperation & Collaboration: Lessons From The International Community.

*Addressing Issues of Human Rights, Media Reportage& Non-Adversarial Resolutions Through Civil-Military Cooperation In The Fight Against Insecurity.

*Civil-Military Cooperation, Effective Legislative & Judicial Processes In The War Against Insecurity.

             Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the premises of the conference, Merit House, Abuja

The following were the resolutions at the end of the three-day conference:

*The Conference of Civil society of Nigeria, with support from the 36 states and 774 local government areas of Nigeria, shall co-opt more CSOs  and individualsinto the CIMICO network. The strategy is for all Nigerians to own the fight against insecurity.

*Going forward, there shall be annual Civil-Military Conferences to consolidate the gains of CIMICO in Nigeria. There shall also be Civil-Military Week, Sports competition between civilians and the Military, visit to IDP camps, etc

*The overall aim of CIMICO is to boost the morale of both the troops and the public.

*The success of CIMICO shall send signals to the international community as regards the improved human rights record of Nigeria.

*The faithful implementation of CIMICO shall underscore the expression of interest of citizens and security operatives alike in sustaining the partnership for enhanced security.

*Coferees condemn the recent attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train and condole with the families of the victims. Conferees condole with the families of fallen heroes, military and civilian alike in the course of insecurity in Nigeria...

I look forward to the second edition of the conference next year... 

Photo L-R: Representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Barr. Mohammed Abubakar (Fmr. Governor of Bauchi state & conference chair), Dame Paulen Tallen (Minister of Women Affairs) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (event anchor)

                                     Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (middle) with Service Chiefs

 

                       L-R: Comrade Adams Otakwu (Conference Convener & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa