Nigeria and Security Sector Reform

Abstract

The last seven years have been significant in Nigeria’s history not only for the democratization process that the country is undergoing but also for the programme of reforms that has been introduced by the Obasanjo administration. Of particular reference, is its reforms in the security sector, where efforts have been made to correct some of the ills that had in the past, bedeviled the various security agencies in the country. However, it is clear that inspite of all its efforts, it is yet to enunciate a security sector reform agenda or develop a government-wide policy for identifying and spreading good practices in the security sector. This paper proposes a comprehensive security sector reform agenda which, it is hoped, will assist the government in its ongoing efforts to promote security sector reform in the country. The objective is to foster discussion on the scope and content of security sector reform within government, the various security agencies and civil society.