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GSJ: Volume 7, Issue 6, June 2019, Online: ISSN 2320-9186
www.globalscientificjournal.com
INTELLIGENCE SHARING: THE CHALLENGES AMONG THE
NIGERIAN SECURITY AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT
BODUNDE David Oluwafemi
Department of Peace, Security and Intelligence Studies
Afe-Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti-State, Nigeria
TEL: +2348068790699
E-Mail:bodavisng@yahoo.com
Noah Opeyemi, BALOGUN
Department of Peace, Security and Intelligence Studies
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
Email: balogunnoah@abuad.edu.ng
Tel.: +2348030627731
Goodluck Tamarameiye, LAYEFA
Department of Media and Event Management
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
Email: layefagt@abuad.edu.ng
Tel: +2347069278170
Abstract
Nigeria is a pluralistic society with diverse culture and with the antecedent of criminal and
insecurity activities. However Nigeria government with a view to promoting national security
has established multiplicity of security outfits to cater for national security. For security to thrive
in such situation there is need for intelligence sharing among these security agencies.
Surprisingly, the multiplicity instead of achieving the utmost security among all odds, they
promote lack of cooperation, ego boosting, favouritism, marginalisation among the various
security outfits. Individual outfit keeps its intelligence gathered within itself with a view to
promoting unnecessary relevance and competition among other outfits rather than sharing
intelligence together to achieve common purpose. The study therefore examined the challenges
of intelligence sharing among the Nigerian security agencies and the government that ought to
execute intelligence report shared with it. Ironically, the politicisation of intelligence shared with
government itself makes a mockery of intelligence sharing among the security outfits. The study
also rests on observation and literature on intelligence and security highlighting the challenges of
security outfits in Nigeria with their overlapping functions. The paper therefore recommends
collaborative effort in intelligence sharing between the security agencies and government, de-
politicising intelligence and more provision of security facilities to help gather information
timely in order to forestall impending dangers.
Key words: Intelligence, intelligence gathering, security, intelligence sharing, challenges.
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Introduction
From independence, Nigeria has been experiencing various insecurity arising from
political and election riots, criminal activities like kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking,
insurgency and terrorism. Other human insecurity ranges from poverty, unemployment
environmental depredation to mention a few. However, one of the cardinal principles of the
government within the constitutional provision is to protect citizens lives and properties. The
agencies saddled with these responsibilities in Nigeria are numerous such as the Nigeria Police,
Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Immigration Services, Nigeria Prison
Services, Nigeria Custom Services, Nigeria Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Fire Services, State
Peace Corps, The Nigeria Army and National lntelligence Agencies (community). Security has
to do with the management of threat and the promotion of peace without let or hindrance.
Security is the desire of individuals and the state. The level of promotion of national security
portends the image of a country internationally as a peaceful or failed state. To support this
Bodunde et. al. (2014) opined that security is about freedom from threat and ability of state and
society to maintain independent identity and their functional integrity against forces of changes
which they see as hostile while the bottom line is survival. For security to survive against forces
of change, intelligence sharing between the security agencies and the government is of
paramount importance.
This intelligence from experts is to be shared among the security agencies. Intelligence
sharing ranges from diverse issues of terrorism, human trafficking, insurgency, war, and poverty,
unemployment that can affect or promote national security adversely. The formal requirements
of intelligence sharing among the Nigerian security outfit are: to be able to direct their
intelligence into specific direction without missing the target, to identify and prioritize the central
problems and elements within those problems on which the security community shared and
focused their attention. Therefore the core vehicle that moves security is the intelligence sharing.
Sharing of intelligence from what happens in the society among the Nigerian security agencies
means that intelligence gathering should not be limited to one sector of security alone
This paper is centered on objectives such as to study the role of the Nigerian security
agencies generally under the National Security Act, to examine how they maintain these security
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roles though intelligence gathering and sharing among themselves, to examine the challenges of
intelligence, sharing among themselves from the citizen, and the environment and finally to
proffer possible solution to this challenges. Since independence scarcely do our leaders
understand what entails national security. They see security of the nation only on territorial
protection, curbing terrorism and insurgencies. And they do not avert their minds that security
goes beyond securing a nation physical geography especially the boundaries with other
countries. Security therefore aggregates and concerns all aspect of human lives and security
interest. Security has expanded to include the sufficient and survival of citizen in areas of source
security, food security, psychological security, water security, environmental security, regime
security, economic security and so on.
Moreover the neglect of information as a pivotal ingredient of intelligence sharing among
the security agencies and the government poses another problem. The world is a world of
information and globalization has also reduced the world into scientific microscopic village
where a farmer in Canada will be relating what happens there to a Nigerian or an insurgency in
Syria will be relating live to a shoemaker in Uganda. Nigeria security are not information
sensitive hence they witness protracted efforts in defeating insurgent, terrorists mapping
strategies to defeat the efforts of traffickers along the borders. Also, the question of
individualism, ego boosting syndrome between agencies and government reducing information
shared into interparty tussle in decision making has made a mockery efforts of the whole
intelligence sharing system among the security agencies.
Conceptual Clarification
Intelligence/Intelligence Sharing: It is difficult to define intelligence because of the various
perceptions individual scholars have on this subject. Supporting this statement Stephen Marrin
opined that intelligence means many things to many peoples and boiling it down to a single
definition is difficult. However some scholars still opined that attempt to the definition of
intelligence should be made. Warner (2002) applying Hoover Commission of 1995 defined
intelligence thus: “Intelligence deals with all the things which could be known in advance of
initiating a course of action”. Carl and Bancroft (1990) defines intelligence as the product
resulting from the collecting and processing of information concerning activities and potentials
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situations relating to domestic and foreign activities and to domestic foreign or U.S and enemy
held area.
Again the 2007 Joint Intelligence (JP 2-0) provided another definition with military
undertone as: The product result from collecting, processing, integrating, evaluation, analysis
and interpretation of available in information concerning foreign nations, hostile or potential
hostile forces of element or areas of actual or potential operation(Joint Chief of staff2009GH:11)
Another definition from Alex and Schmid (2000) stated that:
Intelligence is a knowledge resulting from detection, collection, integration, evaluation,
analysis and interpretation of information used for decision making for diplomats military
and other operations.
Moreover, intelligence sharing is the ability to exchange intelligence information data or
knowledge among federal, state, local and private sector entity. This intelligence from experts
are to be shared among the security agencies. Intelligence sharing ranges from diverse issues of
terrorism, human trafficking, insurgency, war, poverty, unemployment that can affect or promote
national security adversely. The formal requirements of intelligence sharing among the Nigerian
security outfit are: to be able to direct their intelligence into specific direction without missing
the target, to identify and prioritize the central problems and elements within those problems on
which the security community shared and focused their attention. Therefore the core vehicle that
moves security is the intelligence sharing. Sharing of intelligence from what happens in the
society among the Nigerian security agencies means that intelligence gathering should not be
limited to one sector of security alone. Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo conceives
national security as the security of interest of individuals, communities, ethnic groups and entire
political entity, (Abolurin 2011). This portends that intelligence sharing is not an isolated issues,
it involves community ethnics groups, and all Nigeria citizen to render useful information to the
security agencies of which it will be processed to intelligence later shared by the security agents.
Intelligence sharing can be seen from the advantage accrued into security settings of a nation and
its unity in the word of Prunckun (2012:23) “it is a means of preventing an adversary into a
nation’s confidential information or protecting against inadvertent leakage of one’s confidential
information, and to make secure its installation and material against espionage ,subversion,
sabotage, and other forms of politically motivated violence, and the transfer of key technologies
and or equipment.
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The significance of intelligence sharing has warranted modern state to engage in heavy
investment in intelligence gathering on virtually all aspect of human endeavors, including sectors
such as military, security business/economy, technology and so on. It is pity that the Nigerian
security agencies and the government do not consider the increasing complexity of the
contemporary security challenges which require large quantum of intelligence sharing between
the security agencies themselves and the government with a view to having lasting solutions to
the perennials political problems that are threatening the lives and security of Nigerians. It is in
this challenges that we want to examine the essence of information sharing among the
multiplicity of Nigeria security outfits and the government response.
Security: Security is a significant concept and issue that connote may meaning to including and
practitioners its meaning is ambiguous with its scope expanding everyday. Security is diversified
into many issues such as economic security, environmental security, health security, human
security, food security, national security, personal security, and so on. Security must center on
human beings and without making reference to human security, security therefore makes no
sense. Hughes (2006) reiterated the important of environmental security which should base on
agenda rather than concerning on one issue. The agenda are multifarious ranging from threat,
H.I.V, economic development, health, war, as peace. He believed that security can be achieved
through conscious effort of some particular actors who can shape the world in a desired way.
Ogaba 2010:35-36 stated that:
security has to do with freedom from danger or threats to a nation’s ability to protect and
develop itself, promote its cherished values and legitimate interest and enhance the well-
being of its people. Thus internal security could be seen as the freedom from or the
absence of those tendencies, which could undermine internal cohesion, and the corporate
existence of a country and its ability to maintain its vital institution for the promotion of
its core values and socio-political and economic objectives as well as meeting the
legitimate aspirations of the people.
A nation should be more concerned on its internal security against external threat hence Bodunde
et. al. (2014) opined that internal security could be seen as the freedom or absence of those
tendencies which could undermine internal cohesion and corporate existence of a country and its
ability to maintain its vital institution for the promotion of its core value. Galtung (1975:25)
security concept goes beyond political realism which advocated for military might when he
opined thus:
Security is found not in terms of nation might but in terms of holistic understanding that
moves beyond the currency of military power with state a key actor (1975:25).
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This means that other factors such as political factors which call for good leadership,
environmental protection, respect for human rights and others are the parameters which must be
considered In order to attain security.
Levels of Intelligence Collection and Sharing:
Alex and Schmid had carefully highlighted the processes which intelligence should take
before sharing it among the military, diplomats and other agencies in the following terms:
intelligence is a knowledge resulting from, detection, collection, integration, evaluation, analyses
and interpretation of information used for decision making for diplomats, military and other
operation. Intelligence is shared among various security agencies that are concerned with
national security and with other decision makers and government functionaries who are mostly
concerned with national security.
Intelligence Collection Sources:
Before intelligence sharing, there must be intelligence gathering. Good intelligence gathering
begins with proper determination of what ought to be known. Intelligence is gathered from two
main sources namely:
Open Source (Overt) Information obtained from this source constitutes more than four fifth of
the input to most intelligence systems. Open source is a source of Intelligence collection
management system that involves finding, selecting and acquiring information from publicly
available sources and analyzed to produce actionable intelligence. Open source includes:
Intelligence personnel, defense attaché, personnel on courses, military liaison offices, prisoners,
defectors, refugees.
Secret Source (Covert) This is intelligence collected through secret source which includes
clandestine collection through espionage aerial and space reconnaissance, enigma machine,
electromagnetic spectrum and other acoustical instruments. All these are unauthorized and can
attract death penalty. The two sources will now pass through intelligence circle processes
whereby it also passes through collection priority whereby raw information are collected for the
purpose of scrutiny. Furthermore, the information will pass through analyses whereby issues are
analysed in details with the application of psychology and scientific models. Doubtful
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information are subjected into rigorous analyses with competing hypotheses. Final accepted
analysis becomes intelligence and documented for the policy makers for decision making.
Level of Sharing Intelligence
Intelligence is conducted and shared at various levels namely: Strategic level, Operational level,
Tactical level and Counter Intelligence level.
Strategic Level/Intelligence: This is the broadest among the level of intelligence from which
both national and international agencies can share intelligence. It concerns with broad issues
such as economic, political, military capabilities, non state actors, scientific, population and so
on. This covers intelligence gathered on national or international activities that covers issues of
national security and capabilities.
Tactical Level/Intelligence: This is focused on support to the operation at the tactical level and
would be attached to the battle group. At the tactical level, briefings are delivered and
intelligence shared to the patrol on current threat and collection priorities. These patrols are then
debriefed to elicit information for analyses and communication through the reporting chains. The
processed information may range from operational tactical intelligence to higher level strategic
intelligence or national intelligence. However distinction fades between tactical intelligence and
operational intelligence as the speed of transportation communication and weapons delivery
increases.
Operational Intelligence: This is focused on support to an expeditionary force commander and
will be attached to the formation headquarters.
Counter Intelligence Level: Counter Intelligence information is also shared to protect and
maintain the secret of a country’s intelligence operations by preventing spies from penetrating
the country’s government, armed services or intelligence community .Counter intelligence
operation sometimes involves the manipulation of an adversary’s intelligence services by placing
moles’ or double agents in sensitive areas (Harry 1997:246).
Intelligence Sharing as a Synergy between the Security Agencies and the Government
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Intelligence purpose is to fulfill a mission which the outcome is security. Furthermore, it helps
the security agencies to collect and analyze information before application. The information
collected may be raw but which must be carefully detected, integrated and analysed in order to
know the basic facts in the information. Intelligence forestalls misleading the policy makers or
the agencies with whom or which the intelligence is to be shared by passing through the crucible
of intelligence processes or cycles. Intelligence sharing is also important in order to assist both
the security agencies and policy markers to know the intention and capabilities of other nations
and adversaries, to detect crime, protect national sovereignty, assist the policy makers in taking
crucial decisions. It also supplies objective intelligence to other agencies and government for
sharing through early warning by briefing or debriefing in order to be aware of the impending
dangers and work out the means to frustrate them.
The Nigerian Security Agencies and the Challenges of Intelligence Sharing
The Nigeria Police
Various security agencies in Nigeria are vested under several statuses. Police force are under
Police Act Criminal Procedure code, Criminal Procedure act and Public Order Act with broad
power to investigate crimes ,serve summons and seizure of illegal properties, prosecute offenders
and maintain peace, law and order. In addition to these the national Security Agencies Act of
1986 empowered the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency and State
Security Service to perform the following functions:
Defence Intelligence Agency
1. The prevention and detention of crimes of a military nature against the security of
Nigeria.
2. The protection and preservation of all military classified matters concerning the security
of Nigeria both within and outside Nigeria.
3. Such other responsibilities affecting defense intelligence of a military nature, both within
and outside Nigeria
National Intelligence Agency
1. The general maintenance of the security of Nigeria outside Nigeria concerning matters
that are related to military issues and
2. Such other responsibilities affecting national intelligence outside Nigeria as the Nation
Defence councilor, the president as the case may deem fit necessary.
The State Security Service
1. The prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against the internal security of
Nigeria.
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2. The protection and preservation of all non – military classified matters concerning the
internal security of Nigeria and
3. Such other responsibilities affecting internal security within Nigeria as the National
Assembly or the president, as the case may be, may deem fit necessary.
With this provision there is a presumption that other security agencies combined are to be
responsible for National Security and intelligence sharing. Despite these agencies are under the
same umbrella of security and intelligence gathering and sharing, there are serious challenges
facing this responsibility of sharing intelligence.
There are myriad of security challenges in Nigeria which need the attention of security
monitoring through intelligence sharing. These are manifested in areas such as: kidnapping and
hostage taking, hired and political assassinations, ethno – religious violence, smuggling and
trans- border crimes, robbery, human trafficking, drug business and others which undermine
national security. According to Bodunde, et. al. (2014):
“…internal security could be seen as the freedom or absence of those tendencies which
could undermine internal cohesion and corporate existence of a country and its ability
to maintain its vital institution for the promotion of its core value…”
Contrary to this assertion, Nigeria security agencies still face challenges in intelligence
sharing due to the following reasons:
Uncooperative attitude: This one of the cogent factors that impede intelligence sharing among
our security agencies is that individual prefers doing it alone syndrome which does not help
intelligence co-ordination. This is the reason why terrorism refuse to yield to national
intelligence operation due to lack of uncoordinated and uncooperative attitude.
Lack of motivation: Motivation is one of the cardinal factors that increase efficiency and
productivity. Motivation is lacking among the agencies like their counter- parts in foreign
countries. Poor and decay infrastructures, poor salary, lack of life insurance in case of
unexpected death, refusal to reward the security officer who carries out best intelligence
operation.
Mistrust among agencies: The Nigerian security agencies believe that individual agency need to
keep intelligence secret within itself without sharing not to suffer leakage to the public or
adversaries which can be determined to security.
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Principle of individualism: The notice that individual agency has it own nomenclature with
responsibilities ties to be performed under the act that establish it promotes individualism they
themselves different from one another with regard from office and other infrastructures are to
share intelligence now becomes difficult
Ego Boosting Syndrome: ego boosting and supremacy computer among these agencies
impended intelligence, the military believes it is superior to the police in intelligence. The
military believes that when it comes to military affairs other agencies are below expectation.
Other agencies also believe that police are corrupt the sanctity of their intelligence gathered
Unhealthy rivalry: unhealthy rivalry plays a decisive role in intelligence sharing. Individual
agencies want to be seen as the best when talking about manual security. The believe on the
intelligence except and not shamed with other and carry out successfully until earn such
organizations respect before the public and the government.
Overlapping functions between the agencies: from the act that established these agencies with
their function there are overlapping function among them sometimes police will claim
responsibility on certain functions and the Nigerian corpse will claim the same functions backed
with its act. This gives room to disagreement sometimes and breed hatred which may upresent
intelligence sharing.
Obsolete technology: In modern hire of terrorism in which information is a pivotal issues good
functioning and sophisticated technologies are used for information sharing. The Nigerian
Security Agencies are not match with their counterparts in the application of intelligence
technology for intelligence sharing. Vehicles and motorcycles which are means of transportation
are highly obsolete in the modern time.
Lack of expertise knowledge: Lack of expertise knowledge impedes intelligence sharing.
Intelligence sharing does not whispering on the ears of other agencies but critical analysis of
information got and processes to intelligence. Most of the information called intelligence by
these security agencies are mere information that rises alarm without foundation. Again problem
of this lack of expertise knowledge is hinged on the way recruitment is based which is quota
system, favouritism, ethic consideration, comprising efficiency and expertise knowledge on
federal character and the favour of the political party in power and the ethnic he comes from.
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Politicisation of intelligence: Intelligence is as well shared with the government with a view to
making national policy or take immediate action in the early warning impeding danger. Today
the availability of intelligence shared with them makes them debate and even distort intelligence
reports that do not confirm with their previous knowledge, assessment, beliefs and judgment.
Therefore intelligence does not conform to their political influence it can be jettisoned
overboard. Intelligence sharing to them is nonsensical.
Conclusion
In the world of globalization in which insecurity, threat, fear and mistrust pervaded the
world nations such as Nigeria and its security Agencies are not keenly sensitive to intelligence
gathering and sharing. It is a pity that terrorist, transnational criminals, insurgents have taken
over Nigeria today because of the technological availability and ability to use them effectively
for information dissemination at their disposal. The incessant terrorism, insurgency, trafficking
and kidnapping that are now impede Nigerian security cannot but viciated from lack of
intelligence sharing among the Nigerian security Agencies with antecedent factors of lack of
motivation, government insensitivity, ego boosting and other related factors conversed in this
paper.
Recommendation
The Nigerian Security Organisation must be overhauled with educated personnel trained
on intelligence gathering and sharing. Recruitment of Intelligence personnel must not based on
political based by installing the relations or best friend and ethnic of the president into such
sensitive position. It gives room for mediocrity. Again motivation of these agencies with good
salaries, insurance cover, and technology is highly necessary for effective performance. Seminars
must be organised together with these agencies to know the essence of joint intelligence
community information sharing. Finally, the most problem of intelligence sharing is the
government politicization of intelligence in which they should set aside such politicization and
remain apolitical when sensitive intelligence matters are shared with them.
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