If a country has “too much” defence it is wasting its resources, and if it has “too little” it is insecure. The penalty for the former may be a lower standard of living for its citizens; and for the later it may be a loss of independence or an unwanted interference in domestic affairs – Kennedy G. 1975
The 2012 budget presentation by President Goodluck Jonathan has come and gone, with euphoria and nook out. The annual ritual of budget presentation has become a normal Crosby show, by Nigerian leaders in the last 12 years.
If a country has “too much” defence it is wasting its resources, and if it has “too little” it is insecure. The penalty for the former may be a lower standard of living for its citizens; and for the later it may be a loss of independence or an unwanted interference in domestic affairs – Kennedy G. 1975
The 2012 budget presentation by President Goodluck Jonathan has come and gone, with euphoria and nook out. The annual ritual of budget presentation has become a normal Crosby show, by Nigerian leaders in the last 12 years.
It has been on record, that since the country’s return to democracy, the Nigerian government have never implemented budget to at least 50% and the institutions that are saddle with the responsibility of checkmating this rascality, seat comfortably, without asking questions on the performance of the last budget. I think the Nigeria budgetary proposal can be refereed to “Our budget, their money”. This is against the backdrops of the budget failing to impacts on the lives of majority, but, seems to service the comfort and inresponsibilities of gluttonous and vampirous ruling elite.
The Tuesday December 13, 2011 presentation and unveiling of the budgetary proposal of N4.75 trillion for the fiscal year, underscore the trends of the events to come. A breakdown of the budget saw capital expenditure: N1.32 Trillion; Recurrent (non Debt) Expenditure: N2.472 Trillion, Statutory Transfer: N398billion; Debt Servicing: N560 Billion. Further breakdown, saw, and the security sector taking the lion share of N920 billion, almost a trillion, submerging about 12 ministries that are critical to the transformational agenda of the current administration. This is rather outrageous and bogus for a country that is barely crawling to survive. Not only did the president face a lot of criticism from developmental analysis and ordinary citizens, but, it only shows the government is really on the threshold of furthering insecurity and death in Nigeria. I really understood and appreciate the growing security challenges in the country, with the spate of bombing and killing around the country, especially with the activities of myth mania “Boko Haram”. But, importantly, is either the President is being blackmail or he does not know what to do. This is rather treating cancer with paracetamon instead of headache. The real reason for the growing insecurity in the country is the long years of governmental insensitivity to the yearning and aspiration of average Nigerian.
The reality is that; the agonies of corruption, injustice, poverty, unemployment, despondency, frustration and insensitive ruling elite, are all by product of contemporary insecurity.
Interestingly, a further breakdown of security sector proposal carryout by the Daily Trust newspaper, added to the general outcry and confusion. According to the report titled “Security: FG to Spend Billions on Weapon” Monday, December 19, 2011, Page 1 and 6 graphical reported that, under the budget of the SSS (State Security Service), procurement of arms and ammunition will gulp N5 billion. Advance explosive detectors will be bought at N2 billion and another N2 billion is voted for forensic laboratory. Installation of anti-bomb blanket and bomb detectors in North - East, North- West and North – Central will cost N1 billion; while procurement of communication and technical equipment will cost N1.2 billion. Also for the SSS, purchase operational vehicles is to cost N1 billion; installation of cell phone tracking system interception, N1.3 billion; N5 billion is for acquisition of counter surveillance jammer; V-Sat project, N1.675 billion; procurement of tactical interception system using vehicle, N1 billion; and satellite monitoring system, N1.5 billion. In the office of the National Security Adviser, N8.87 billion will be used to purchase satellite communication equipments in FCT; N14.4 billion will go for data signal centre and equipment; N3.2 billion iridium communication platform; N2 billion will be gulped by 12 motorized direction finder jeeps to be stationed in the FCT; N150 million is for cyber security; and Presidential communication network will cost N2 billion.
The report further unveiled that; the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), for its part, will spend N8 billion on purchase of security equipment; N1 billion on satellite; N1 billion is for 100 piece of 5.7 by 28 P.90 Belgium assaults rifles with 50 round magazine and extra magazines; and N1 billion on installation of motorized gates at three locations in the headquarters complex. The Presidential Air fleet is allocated N2 billion in 2012 from which N1.9 billion is for balance for the purchase of aircraft Hawker 400Xp. The police formation and commands has a total allocation of N307.8 billion in the coming year out of which, N241 million is for purchase of explosive ordinance disposal equipment for anti-bomb squad; and N243 million is for anti-terrorism squad equipment. Also, N52 million is for purchase of BMW motor cycles configured to police specification including riders kits; N260 million is for security votes; N203 million will go for the procurement of armored patrol vans; N301 million will also be used to procure patrol vehicles with installed communication equipment and arms and communication will cost the government N431 million.
Looking at this breakdown gave someone the reflection of Somalia like situation for Nigeria. I believe it is only a country at war that could budget such amount of money for security, especially weaponry. Weaponries and money have never solved security problems across the globe.
The real security of any country lies with human aspect of security. People can only be secured when they are free from hunger, poverty, fear, diseases, and environmental degradation. These are human security indicators across the globe. Even the militarily advanced countries are not yet free from fear and insecurity due to the general neglect of the human aspect of development, irrespective of social security for the unemployed. The United State of America, United Kingdom, France, and Israel still suffered insecurity and fear even with advancement in weaponries and military capabilities; compared to countries like Croatia, Switzerland, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Austria, U.E.A etc. Further re-echoing Robert McNamara statement that, “Security means development. Security is not military hardware…. It is not military force….. Security is development, and without development there can be no security.
The security budgetary proposal, only confirmed the various projections of veteran journalists like Mohammed Haruna, on the role of corruption and defence contractors in the whole insecurity situation in Nigeria, especially with the growing dexterity and attacks of the Boko Haram insurgent. If there is anything, the security budget has just confirmed, that international conspiracy and internal security dynamics are at play in the growing quest to secured Nigeria and Nigerians. To my mind, the 2012 budget is a budget of death. Death indeed, because, different interest groups will scrambles for the spoils of war; thereby endangering more insecurity, bomb explosion and deaths. Am not a prophet of doom, but, this is the reality of our existence. Corruption within all sector of the Nigerian economy, has crippled the potential of a promising country. For the sake of money, power and blackmails, defence contractors, security circle and external collaborators, will force the government to doll out this outrageous money for weapons instead of settling the crisis of insecurity which lies with poverty, unemployment and despondency in governance. I think, just like the fuel subsidy removal debate; government is shying away from its responsibilities, and spends so much energy chasing shadows. Government or the President seems not dispose to fight the crouches of corruption, poverty, unemployment and criminality in governance.
Before, the bombs and killing machine begins; President Goodluck Jonathan must be sensitive to the wishing and aspiration of Nigerians who are suffering from the crouch of poverty, unemployment and insensitivity of ruling elite. The current security situation call for broader strategies involving religion and community leaders, youth groups, civil societies, and media. The insecurity situation only shows lack of intelligent gathering and human intelligent sharing. Money has never solve any problem, it only escalate it. So, for the peace and security of Nigeria, we hope the National Assembly should slash this budgetary proposal of death and insecurity.
I hope Allah in His Infinity mercy; will protect the lives and properties of His servants against criminals and evil force both within and outside the government. No doubt; 2012, is a decision point to Nigeria, and will be beclouded with uncertainty amidst governmental failure and insensitivity of a ruling elite. No doubt; moderate security budget and human security are the panacea to insecurity, not this budgetary proposal of perfidy.
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