Weak Intelligence Coordination Deepening Nigeria’s Security Crisis – SDP

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, says Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is being driven more by poor intelligence sharing among security agencies than by a lack of military firepower.

Alhaji Gabam made the remarks during a televised debate on Nigeria’s security challenges, arguing that military force alone cannot resolve the country’s persistent insurgency, banditry and kidnapping crises.

He said effective security operations must be anchored on strong intelligence coordination and close cooperation between agencies, stressing that intelligence must be deliberately gathered, properly analysed and acted upon in a timely manner.

While acknowledging the importance of kinetic military action, Mr Gabam praised the Department of State Services (DSS) for what he described as improvements in intelligence gathering under its current leadership.

Mr Gabam warned that failures in intelligence coordination have, in some cases, led to military operations being halted at critical moments, undermining efforts to rescue victims and neutralise armed groups.

He raised concerns about political interference and blurred lines of authority within Nigeria’s security architecture, saying such weaknesses erode public confidence and operational effectiveness.

Under Nigeria’s constitution, he noted, only the president, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has the authority to order troops to stand down from operations, warning that any contrary directive poses a serious threat to national security.

He pointed to unresolved incidents involving troop withdrawals during kidnapping cases in parts of Kebbi State, saying the absence of official explanations has continued to raise questions about accountability and command responsibility.

On Nigeria’s capacity to defeat armed groups, Mr Gabam said the country has trained personnel and years of operational experience, but requires greater access to modern equipment, surveillance tools and intelligence-driven technology to match evolving threats.

He criticised unilateral military actions by the United States in parts of the region, arguing that Nigeria’s security interests would be better served through structured cooperation, intelligence sharing, arms access and technology transfer.

Mr Gabam also expressed concern over deteriorating security along Nigeria’s northern borders, linking the situation to instability in the Sahel and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said Nigeria failed to sufficiently prioritise its bilateral relationship with Niger Republic, despite their long-standing ties and shared borders, creating security gaps now being exploited by armed groups and criminal networks.

He further referenced claims by Niger’s military authorities that some arrested suspects had implicated Nigerian officials, stressing that such allegations must be thoroughly investigated to safeguard national integrity and public trust.

Mr Gabam warned that Nigeria’s security challenges are being compounded by political tensions, worsening poverty, youth unemployment and growing public frustration ahead of future elections.

He urged the federal government to take urgent steps to reduce national tension and strengthen coordination within the security sector.

Mr Gabam called on the president to assert firmer leadership over Nigeria’s security architecture, saying effective intelligence coordination, clear command authority and accountability remain central to restoring stability across the country.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji