NCS to FG; Do not outsource Nigeria’s national security to foreigners

By Emeka Aginam

The President of the Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, Prof. Sola Adorounmu has warned the Federal Government not to outsource Nigeria’s national security to foreigners.

The President of NCS who dropped this hint in Lagos while unfolding the details of the 2016 NCS national conference holding in few weeks time in Abuja said that advancing national safety and security, innovation and innovation, inclusion and networking security will top discussion at the forum.

He said that Nigeria will continue to remain in the digital colony of other countries of the world unless her national security is protected and managed by the indigenous IT professionals in the country.

While condemning the engagement of foreigners in handling Nigeria’s national security, he said that, NCS has always advocated that the usage of IT in Security needs to be improved through more widespread adoption of IT professionalism in the private and public sectors.

NCS and its members , he assured can play a major role in improving the state of security nationwide, combating terrorism, enhancing public service delivery and accountability and boosting job creation.

“The national conference will provide a multi-stakeholder forum to examine pertinent considerations in achieving IT enabled Security to advance and achieve sustainable development.
He said that the conference will focus on issues related to the theme and sub themes such as: National Database, Integral to National Security, IT and the National Security Strategy, Universal Broadband Access , the Security Imperative, IT as an indispensable security tool,a among others”he said.

Warning on the dangers of outsourcing the country’s national security, he informed that NCS has concluded plans to assemble an impressive line-up of leading researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, industry experts, thought leaders, international scholars, among others to share their extensive knowledge and experience on “Information Technology for National Safety and
Security” as the theme of the national conference.

“NCS is certain that the outcomes of the conference will boost National Safety and Security in Nigeria. It will provide the best and most modern answers to Nigeria’s security challenges”, he explained.

Also speaking, Jide Awe , Innovation and Development Advisor, ICT and the Chairman, Conferences committee, of NCS said that national security is about protecting the nation’s interests. He warned that it is dangerous and extreme vulnerability to keep the country’s vital interests, including the the economy, military, cyberspace, borders, among others in the hands of external powers.

“It is against the very concept of our own national security to outsource national security. With our national security in their hands,they could exploit the situation to favour their companies, industries and global aspirations while at the same time undermining Nigeria and keeping us at a disadvantage.

“Nations always compete actively and aggressively for strategic and global advantage. So
another country will always prioritize their own interests over our own national interests.

“”t is risky to assume external interests will care more about your local concerns who have a direct stake in Nigeria. Forward looking nations always ensure that there is significant local content in national security”., he stated.

He said that Nigeria has indigenous solutions in some aspects of national security. “There is however a need to identify gaps in critical aspects and develop a strategy to build local capacity and invest in research.

“There is also a growing global market in IT enabled security and it isn’t in Nigeria’s interest to be on consuming end. Building local capacity in security can enable tap into the global opportunities as well”, Awe said.

Source:- Vanguardngr