While many countries are busy curtailing the use of sirens to only government officials if ever it is necessary, in Nigeria the opposite is the case. There is a growing trend in private individuals hiring sirens for personal use or installing it with the purpose of achieving the above. It has grown to such exceptionality that it is no longer unusual to see cars rolling by in high speed with a siren or blue light installed. A friend jokingly christened it ‘money siren’ associating with big money as opposed to government responsibility to protecting all and sundry. At traffic jam it is not unusual to see such blaring to escape such, an indication of how divided the society exist-different rules for different peers as far as Nigeria is concerned.The permit is usually obtained from law enforcement agency so there is official knowledge of its prevalence within the society. What should be noted is that it is only accessible to wealthy individuals within the society or those who can show they have acquired wealth without proof of how those wealth were amassed. All what is required is for the Lagos command to grant the permission so long as the money is in display.
A friend of mine visiting Nigeria after a long time was shocked in his observations as to how prevalent this has become. In these cars fitted with siren are security personnel whom are attached to these car owners. One question comes to mind, if individuals are given private security either police or army, whom then guards the state or community where the population resides.The amazing thing is that there are more individuals seeking such security clearances to operate with entourage meaning many police officials are withdrawn from officials public good to serve personal interests. The big question would be; What internal conditions could give rise to such a situation? With the spike in kidnapping around different states within the country and politician enriching themselves, clueless to societal need, the Country resembles just a gangster paradise
There is no current study that suggest the benefit of such individualization of security outfit to increased or reduced risk associated with crime to a particular society. The only thing that can easily crop to mind is the failure of the system to work efficiently giving rise to such proliferation. This situation is common in countries with high level of insecurity or lapses on security matters as a result of warlord or segmented security formation. This situation can arise in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya or Congo which can be classified as failed state? The indication and implications of such to Nigeria only signifies characteristics of failed statehood of which is no different from countries in state of war. The failure to adequately arrange or organize how states should function has resulted in such conditions as seen today which is an indictment on the crop and class of elite who benefits from such state of utter despondency, desperation and fear.
What are the primary responsibilities of government?
The function of government all over the world is to provide security to the population within their territory. These security functions can be carried out in most instances by the police. The relationship between the population and the police is very vital in achieving internal security of the state. But in most cases these relationship is that of cat and mouse as most would attest to. In most instances these situation could deteriorate the relations between the police and the community is one of suspicion. There has be report the very same police that are supposed to protect citizens inspire fear and terror. Since such protections extend to life and property. Given the above, equal provision to protection of life and properties should not be biased against the poor. Application of ‘what is good’ should be beneficial to both ‘goose and gander.’ This means that government shouldn’t use general public goods to serve certain interests above the other as such the quod pro quo principle should remain relevant in the mind and act of those placed in position of authority. When the rich are highly prioritized to the detriment of the poor in a the society it is indicative of failure on the part of the state to perform the sole responsibilities of securing life and property as such no different from a classification of a failed state.
What are the consequences of such proliferation of security outfits without coordination?
The consequences are multifaceted firstly, the diversion of resources and factionalisation of the society. Of course one might argue that the gab between rich and poor are so obvious as such the rich requires greater protection. This does not hold because a society that undermines its under privileged people run the risk of heightened tension and is judged by how it takes care of their need. The adoption of constitutional democracy was meant to take care of perceived inequalities creating room for coexistence before the law for both rich and poor. This is to avoid creating the impression that the law operates in two categories one for the rich and the other for the poor. This diversionary illusion gives the powerful the right to act as though they are above reproach-a bias approach in the distribution and management of general goods. This kind of behavior encourages out of touch policy of impunity on the part of those entrusted with the leadership within the society. This total or absolute disorganization associated with such fragrant disregard to normal process of social coexistence is hard to comprehend and leads to continued disdain and inept actions on authorized persons towards the poor in today’s Nigeria . This happens because no one amongst those in authority understood how such behavior unfortunately undermines basic rule of law leading to break down of law and order-situation of chaos or rule of the jungle.
Secondly, it blurs the line in security as individuals involved act right above the law of common sense. For instance in a recent incident a blue light driver parks his car right in the middle of the road creating long line of traffic and could not be challenged, an indication of how fragrantly laws are and can be abused by the powerful.
Thirdly such act can be exploited by criminal syndicates. The security personal are quick to let such drivers with blue light to cross security post without subjection to searches. There has been report where individuals uses these cars to transport illicit goods under the protection of the law. This unfortunately also adds to challenges of insecurity within the country. The spike in Kidnappings across the country and officials authorizations of siren and blue light offers incidents for perpetrators under the cover of the law.
Fourthly, it highlights break down in rule of law and probably failed state attribute. The simple fact that anyone can be given the power to run a blue light with the authority of the law enforcement agency is an indictment to the fact that no authority is in a existence. That limited resources could be diverted to few individuals to the detriment of an entire society should be worrying and calls to question if really the government takes seriously the oath to protect every life and not selected life’s.
Are such unconventional wisdom supportive of current Security challenge in Nigeria?
There is no solution in such act as granting individuals to take security in their own hands as leasing what should be public goods or tools. While the politicians allot to themselves police and military personnel as guards, the masses languish within insecurity. The few with money buy sirens to blow their way through the chaos. This proliferation of such security apparels endangers the well being of the entire society. Since the proliferation of jihadist from ISIS to Boko Haram, and with government inability to secure the borders, it is utter stupidity that given such level of insecurity government should take for granted such security matters. That security is biased against the poor people who are victims of government failed policy to achieve protection of lives and property through such leases is a proven fact. Just as many nations are tightening the screw on use of security product in times like these given counterinsurgency in an era filled with terrorism, it is incumbent on state such as Nigeria to review certain act or policy that doesn’t add to its security needs. Such unconventional act can be exploited and damaging to the citizens whose hopes unfortunately are increasingly far away from their political elites not leaders.
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