Nigerian security and institutional reform efforts

Discussions regarding Nigerian security and institutional reform have emerged from both legislative and intelligence sectors.

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), advocated for holistic reforms that address socio-economic drivers like hunger and unemployment rather than relying solely on military coercion. While expressing support for the implementation of state police, Sulaiman cautioned that without strict safeguards, governors might use these forces to “suppress political opposition.”

Following these calls for reform, Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director General of the State Security Service (SSS/DSS), announced a roadmap to modernize the agency. This strategy focuses on transitioning to intelligence-led, data-driven operations to combat terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime. The reforms include adopting advanced surveillance technology and strengthening international cooperation to track illicit arms and terrorism financing.

Expanding on this roadmap, Ajayi issued a directive prohibiting operatives from making arrests in civil matters. This initiative is part of a five-pillar reform strategy encompassing law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, accountability, respect for human rights, and administrative improvements. Ajayi emphasized the need to distinguish between civil disputes and criminal offenses, noting that the use of force is inappropriate for the former. He cited a legal dispute with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) as a precedent for the necessity of these changes. Additionally, Ajayi addressed a recent rescue operation in Oyo State that resulted in multiple fatalities, warning against the use of deepfake videos and social media disinformation regarding the incident.