By Olusegun Olanrewaju
A university don, Paul Ojo, has identified the myriad of security challenges in the country as a major factor in the reduced respect for the Nigerian passport.
Ojo, a lecturer at the Department of International Relations, College of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences of McPherson University, Ogun State, made this submission at a security sensitisation seminar on Thursday.
The International Relations don, who is also a security expert, harped on the need for universities to understand their roles in the security architecture of the nation.
Presenting a paper focused on campus security, Ojo stressed the importance of a peaceful nation, and the obligation of the government at all levels to ensure its provision according to the constitution.
He added that failure of government has international implications, and advised the authorities in tertiary institutions to safeguard their immediate environments.
“Security is the stable, relatively peaceful environment where you can predict your actions without any form of harm or disturbance.
“This is guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution, Section 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, that says ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government.’
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“Therefore, one cannot address the problem of security without addressing our internal issues in the country,” he stated.
According to him, “One of the problems our security challenges cause is dent the image of the country, and that is why the Nigerian passport has become an endangered species.
“Wherever anyone holds a green passport, people like to question them. I, therefore, put it to the Vice-Chancellor and his team that the security of life and property, and the welfare of staff shall be your primary responsibility.”
He added that the government still goes to the media to solicit public support despite the various security outfits in the country.
This he said, is not far-fetched because the government requires citizens to obey laws and collaborate on ensuring security.
He further described the security challenges universities are exposed to cultism, drug abuse, and sexual harassment, amongst others, with cultism and drug abuse taking the lead.
“Cultism has become a way of life from the primary to tertiary institutions in the country, so we cannot run away from it because this social vice will rear its ugly head as the university expands.
”But what is important is the ability to handle it. Also, drug abuse is everywhere, we should not deceive ourselves, it is a common issue in all universities,” Ojo added.
On his part, Oluwaseyi Lala, a chief superintendent of police and the Senior Security Officer of the university stressed the potential impact lecturers can have on students towards moulding them to be better products for the society.
“No other authority holds more influence over students than academic staff who act as mentors, guardians, coaches, educationists, advisers, and counsellors.
“Lecturers have the pre-eminent ability to modify individuals, communities, and the larger society with the words they teach.
”Frankly, speaking, terrorists are not born, rather they are indoctrinated. Their mindset of hatred and fanaticism is the product of indoctrination and defective monitoring.
“We all know that the best way to safeguard the university community from the current storm of criminality is to proactively prevent it collectively.
“Training and security budgets are choking and it is human nature to become somewhat complacent about security when there is no possible threat.
”It is important for everyone to wake up and stay vigilant and understand their role in the safety and security plans of the university.
He further gave various ways academic staff and their non-academic counterparts can ensure campus safety in the country in their daily routines.
This, he said, includes teaching students about the dangers of wrong use of the internet, and identity theft, and encouraging the habit of speaking to the university authority.
“No information is useless. The information considered irrelevant can lead to a bigger discovery that can avert a potential security risk on campuses, probe attitudinal changes in students, and teach students the need to report deviant behaviours of their colleagues to the appropriate authorities.
He added that students should be discouraged from public display of identity cards in transit as potential kidnappers could use such information to select their target.
The seminar also had in attendance the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the institution, Prof. Francis Igbasan, who highlighted the various efforts the Institution had put in place, in conjunction with various security outfits, to ensure safety in its corridors.
Others in attendance included the representatives from the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and a community vigilante group.
