Bello Dambazau as the next National Security Advisor
The National Security Adviser is a senior official in the cabinet of the President of Nigeria who manages national security on behalf of the President and serves as his chief advisor on all matters that are vital to the very survival of the state. The position is a statutory member of the Presidency, National Security Council and Federal Executive Council.
The National Security Adviser is appointed by the President and does not require confirmation from the Nigerian Senate.The duties varies from administration to administration; and depends, not only on the qualities of the person appointed to the position, but also on the style and management philosophy of the incumbent President.
Concerned citizens preferred Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau as the best choice for the position of a National Security Advisor (NSA).
Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau is a retired Nigerian Army general and politician who served as Chief of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010; and in President Muhammadu Buhari’s Cabinet as Minister of the Interior from 2015 to 2019.
Dambazau is an indigene of Zaria in kaduna State. He is a retired Lieutenant General in the Nigerian Army.He had his secondary education at Barewa College, Zaria where he finished from in1974.
He then proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna where he was member of the 17 Regular Combatant Course. In June 1977, He was thereafter commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army. In 1979, Dambazau also attended the US Army Military Police School, Fort McClellan.
Dambazau later went to Kent University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1982 and a PhD in Criminology from the University of Keele in 1989.
Dambazau however served as a military police officer, an Aide De Camp to the Chief of Army Staff in 1979. He also commanded military police units and then served as a Special Investigator from 1984 to 1985.
From there, Dambazau was made a Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy from 1993 to 1999. He also worked as Chief Instructor, Support Weapon Wing of the Infantry Centre and School from 1999 to 2001 and later as Directing Staff at the National War College from 2004 to 2006. From 2007-2008.
He subsequently served as GOC-General Officer Commanding 2nd Division, Ibadan. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 2008 by President Umaru Yar?adua appointed him as his chief of Army Staff in 2008.
Danbazzau also has an impressive flair for writing. In addition to his doctorate thesis, books authored by him includes; Military Law Terminologies, 1990, Law and Criminality in Nigeria, 1994, Issues in Crime prevention and control in Nigeria, 1996, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 1999, Criminology and Criminal Justice, second Edition, 2007.
He is also the recipient of several military honors and awards, qualifications and commendations.
Dambazau, has on several occasions called for an urgent clean-up of weapons and drugs among the Fulani youth to stem increasing cases of kidnapping and insecurity in the country.
One such occasions is in a conference with a theme: “Exploring the contemporary challenges facing pastoralism and Fulbe with a view of proffering workable solutions in curbing insecurity across the nation.”
Dambazau made the call in his paper, titled “Dilemma of the Fulbe pastoralist,” presented at the Pastoralists and Fulbe Security conference, in Abuja.
It was jointly organised by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Northern Consensus Movement (NCM).
The former minister stressed the need for urgent practical solutions to kidnapping by the Fulbe youth which has led to daily loss of lives and destruction of properties.
According to him, one of the steps should be blocking access to weapons and cleaning up all weapons already in circulation within the Fulani pasturalist youth environment.
“We must also clean up the stable, and by this, I mean, with the help of the NDLEA, the society must work on the drug abuse among the Fulbe pastoralist youth,” he said.
He noted with concern that drug traffickers had targeted the Fulbe youth and there was a high rate of drug abuse among them, which must be decisively dealt with.
According to him, in order to deter the criminals among the Fulbe pasturalist communities, it is important that the criminal justice system comes strong against all those arrested for such violent crimes.
He said that they should be prosecuted and if found guilty, be subjected to maximum punishment.
“We must ensure justice and pursue human capital development that would improve the education and health of the Fulbe pastoralist to open more opportunities for him for self-development in the society.
