Okowa’s Gameplan On Homeland Security Will Attract US Investors to Delta

Gasby Ayoh a counter-terrorism and security expert is President of US based Evergreen Protective Services with a cutting edge on national and homeland security. With branches of Evergreen in the country, Ayoh offers   suggestions on containing terrorism in the North east, sustainable security in other parts of the country and why Delta State’s enduring secure environment remains a haven for American investors. NDUKA NWOSU spoke with Ayoh who was at the United Nations with Maryland Diaspora Nigerians to listen to President Muhammadu Buhari’s address.

Your state governor His Excellency Senator Ifeanyi Okowa says security is on the table of his primary agenda for Delta State. How important is this?

His Excellency Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has been long in government to understand the implications of a safe, secure investment haven as Delta State. He has been Secretary to the Government of Delta State and a distinguished federal law maker.

There is a social, economic and political thread linked to a secure environment and everything about his blueprint in government is interwoven to this very important issue of security. The Niger Delta has been largely de-militarised and with the handing over of arms by the militants, kidnapping has been contained as well as armed robbery and other forms of criminal behavior. Okowa’s administration is sustaining these gains while making Warri and other investment outlets, major attractions for American and other investors. A business summit held in New York during the 2014 UN Conference of Heads of State identified Delta State as a leading destination for investors in Nigeria and with its ports and airport as work in progress that will expose the state to the global village. Delta State therefore will remain a 21st century tourist attraction centre. Evergreen Protective Services is keen on adding value to this development.

What is the importance of a sustainable security model for attracting investors to Delta State?

The importance anchors on development, prosperity and progression. To actualize this calls for a massive investment attraction in the oil city of Warri, large scale transformation of Asaba the capital city to a mega-city in the mold of the world’s most leading capitals-New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Jo’Burg et al.

Once a secure network guaranteeing a peaceful environment is attained, the investment haven that makes everyone who is ready to work employable becomes given

You have been a constant watcher on Nigeria’s security situation; what’s your update?

Boko Haram has been considerably degraded in the forests and evidence on ground suggests it is getting weaker by the day in terms of operations. Sadly, the suicide bombing activities of the terrorist organisation continues to gather momentum. In the past twelve weeks or so, the intensity of its bombing missions has gone up the graph. There is need for the security agents to exchange information and intelligence especially among the local people. What prompts a young man or woman to undertake a suicide assignment? Is the victim operating beyond forces he or she cannot control and how did we get to this point? Where was the take-off point and how come this set of people is shielded by their families? Knowing this psychological makeup will help to unmask the attacks in the cities, markets and other strategic locations.

Of course, we must not lose sight of the element of indoctrination, large scale poverty, illiteracy, disease and unemployment wrought on the people through years of bad governance, avarice and squandermania. The rehabilitation of the terrorist group must essentially be felt among the grassroots from where the bombers are recruited.

How can the Federal Government benefit from your experience?

I have always aired my views on the way forward in countering insurgency in the north and other parts of the country and my emphasis makes intelligence gathering central to our ability to neutralise terrorism. Intelligence gathering is central to counter-terrorism assaults. Of course having access to superior assault weapons had in the past weeks of the last and present administrations helped in arresting the onslaught of the terrorists beyond their present locations. This must be sustained.

More importantly, there is need to penetrate the domains from where these terrorists operate in the cities. Do not forget they have sponsors both locally and outside; we need to do more work on this especially those who supply them the cash and raw materials for their bombing activities. The ISIS connection seems to be weak and should through exchange of information with other networks in the sub-region and beyond continue to be weakened. The American experience intensified and re-built its alert levels after the 911 attacks. Security consciousness is the underlying expression; this is summarized by the expression: “If you see something, do something.” You don’t keep quiet at the slightest suspicion of a character or movement around you. The security network works on a high level of co-operation and exchange of ideas, constant study and an alert on every issue on ground. The military, intelligence, police, immigration and customs networks must be strengthened in all strategic locations.

What’s your take on the proposed engagement of mercenaries by the government?

Recruiting mercenaries to fight terrorism is alright but will be in the short run. The long run strategy must involve the training of a special unit that will constantly improve on its intelligence gathering network and experience built on the field.

President Muhammadu Buhari has given a December deadline to eliminate Boko Haram while former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon says there should be no deadline. What’s your take?

Giving deadline is aimed at shoring up the morale of the military fighting Boko Haram while assuring the civilian population of hope. On the other hand, it is only wise to avoid as much as possible the idea of placing a deadline on a slippery opponent like Boko Haram. I think as much as possible we should engage the enemy with a mix or basket of strategies of sometimes a frontal engagement and the Fabian tactics of delay, attrition and surprise. Oftentimes when we try to create room for Boko Haram to predict us, the intensity of its bombing activities get propped up.

Does an evolving economy expose a country like Nigeria to terrorist risks?

It does not follow; however we are exposed to the hazards of belonging to a global village where terrorism is now the norm. The country’s new nomenclature as the leading economy in Africa calls for the kind of enabling environment that is investor friendly. That means completely degrading and eliminating the terrorist network and other forms of crime likely to sway investors away from the country to other African states that are more investor friendly.

   As Africa’s leading economic giant, evolving terrorist threats from violent terrorist groups and cells like Boko Haram, kidnappers, armed robbers and human traffickers pose the most immediate problem to the country. Terrorists in particular continue to enhance their nefarious bombing skills by cooperating with regional terrorist groups abroad and thus intensifying their efforts inside the least expected zones. Hence, Government must take an in-depth, risk-based enforcement approach to detect and interdict terrorist threats to the nation and different types of weapons and contrabands that could enter the country.

What is your proposition in ensuring this problem is put under check especially at the borders?

This multilayered, risk based strategy includes the ability to receive advance information on people, cargo, and conveyances coming into Nigeria, use automated targeting systems and advanced inspection technologies to identify high-risk shipments, conveyances, and individuals coming into Nigeria; there is need for  innovative and collaborative partnership programs aimed at enhancing and strengthening the borders.

Fighting security calls for adequate logistics, effective communication tools including human and material resources; it also includes modern monitoring technological equipment and methods, manpower and counter insurgency measures, a rapid response evaluation and evacuation team.

The major weapon is intelligence; no terrorism can be fought without intelligence and information sharing with modern military equipment and skilled personnel. You must also be ready to fight a propaganda war. We will need to bring our military to a 21st century level. I believe the police will become more vibrant when it is decentralised and brought closer to the communities.

Why do you think the police should be decentralised with state or regional police aimed at keeping the communities safe and secure just like the US homeland security?

Decentralising police at state and local government levels will go a long way in checking crime. Community policing will help maintain law and order by countering the activities of kidnappers, arsonists, and even terrorists because most of these elements are product of the grassroots and by staying closer to the people, the intelligence network will become more effective. Quasi military units some of which are already in such places as Lagos State can effectively collaborate with the police in checking crime.

What new knowledge from your US experience can your home state Delta benefit from in the security sector?

Delta state remains a relatively peaceful and secure environment, the type that is referred to as an investment haven and thanks to the previous and present governments. It is noteworthy that Governor Okowa’s security agenda is aimed at consolidating the existing gains he helped to drive.

What’s your brief on Evergreen Protective Company?

Evergreen Protective Services which is firmly rooted in the US offers an experience-based, low-risk, best-value security solutions for our clients.   Our approach provides our customers with a local service provider that has a diverse mix of uniformed guard services, extensive surveillance, modular real-time monitoring, and trackable high-end access control. This suite of security solutions provides a transparent approach to global best practices. Our core competence is in security consulting. We ask to do vulnerability assessment of your facility before you contract with us, by so doing we can best serve you. We are very proactive and above all, we must add value to you. 

Where does industrial security differ from neighbourhood watch?

There is really a thin line of divide because whereas industrial security puts an eye on men and materials, homeland security is an effort at ensuring a secure homeland through community and civil defence efforts. By definition, homeland security is that portion of internal security which refers to the protection of industrial installations, resources, utilities, materials and classified information essential to protection from loss and damage et al.

Homeland security or community policing, again by definition is an American umbrella term for “a concerted national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards.”​