National Security: The Emerging Challenge Before NIPOST In Nigeria

By

Emeka Oraetoka  

oramekllis@lycos.com

 

 

On Saturday, 19 December 2009, the cover page of New Nigerian Newspaper read; NIPOST intercepts 4 billion worth of foreign currencies. According to the report, Mallam Baba said that in November, NIPOST working in concert with other security operatives such as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission [EFCC], the British Serious Organized Crime Agency [SOCA], the Nigeria Customs and the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA] sized letters containing $3,329,935.70, E389, 863.20, and 879,650Euros, as well as 294 blank cheques, fake $10,100, fake cash, 150 documents suspected to be fake drug and four International passport. According to the PMG, “all the sized items were concealed in slippers and text books to deceive the eagle eye of NIPOST staffs and other security agents”……. Further he said, NIPOST posture against fraudulent tendencies had paid off handsomely as the organization is now a member of two global  bodies, the National Focal Point, a body responsible for formulating policies on counter Terrorism as well as Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Abuse and Control…… With the December 22, 2009 letter bomb explosion in Lagos, which was reportedly sent via the postal service, it has become obvious that more effort is needed on the part of Government in the funding of security aspect of NIPOST operation. It could be possible that the Dec 22 letter bomb entered in to the shore of Nigeria from one of those points that are yet to get scanning machine, for the purpose of dictating the content of every letter for NIPOST to be a proud member of the National Focal Point, there is no doubt that the outfit is now more of a security organization than its traditional function.

Here is my earlier article that was published in an Internet site, www.gamji.com, in 2008, entitled: National Security: The Changing Face Of NIPOST In Nigeria. It is a well known fact that before the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11, and the unprecedented finding of anthrax sent through the U.S mail, which left five innocent people dead and sickened others; the United States of America’s Postal Service, and its counterpart in Britain and other European countries were seen and largely concerned only with enhancing effective communication, which in actual fact is the reason behind their establishments. Threats of parcel bomb, biological weapon of mass destruction via mail, have combined to give global postal services new but challenging functions-National Security and associated function. 

Today, the traditional function of Postal Services is now apparently secondary in the face of threats to national security worldwide. For instance, in United States of America (USA), a report on the internet where US Postal inspectors promised reward up to $100,000, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for a parcel bomb on February, 26, 2004, is a serious issue that supports the changing face of Postal Service generally. If a bomb could be sent through the mail, then a serious threat lurks. There is no doubt that those parcels containing fake currencies, dictated by Mallam Mori Baba led NIPOST, could as well contain parcel bomb. This is why all hands must be on deck.

 

Information emanating from NIPOST indicates that the establishment appear to have joined its United States of America (USA), counterpart in intercepting instruments that are not only clog in the economy of Nigeria, but also tend to portray the country as a rouge state. On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, leadership Newspaper reported that; NIPOST intercepted fake foreign currencies valued at about N8,357,971,204.00 in Nigerian money, which was shifted to the country from different countries overseas. According to the postmaster general of the Federation, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, at the press briefing in Abuja as reported, the money are in different currencies ranging from dollars, British pound sterling and Euros.

 

The report further stated that NIPOST had in 2007, intercepted some hundred foreign fake currencies worth N28,810,230,664,782 scam letters, and over (100) forged share certificates, in conjunction with Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Custom; from Nigeria through the post office, with the help of sophisticated machine(s) installed at the entry points; it could generally be seen that time has come for Federal Government to support NIPOST in this vital area of security. The imperative of this vital support is central now that no incident of parcel bomb and related problems had been reported by NIPOST.

 

There is no doubt that the action of NIPOST in the area of security appears to have opened a new chapter in the role of NIPOST in a changing technological and scientific world of today. This new role of NIPOST probably emanated from renewed interest in the role of Postal Services in advanced countries, which kicked started after the September 11, terrorist attacks in USA. According to a post “ The U.S Postal Service Response to the Threat of Bio-terrorism Through the Mail”; the introductory parts of the report expressly high-lighted the importance of U.S Postal Service to its National Security. The opening paragraphs of the report as consolidated here reads thus: The use of U.S Postal Service (USPS) to deliver agents of bio-terror has caused twenty-two confirmed cases of antherx including five deaths as well as massive disruption to congress and the USPS. The contamination caused by processing and opening of the letters shuttered the Hart Senate Office Building for more than three months and indefinitely closed mail processing centres in the district of Columbia, New Jersey and Maryland. These attacks have radically changed the way the nation views mail delivery and mail safety. Both the public and private sector are evaluating a variety of methods to reduce the risk of similar future attacks. These potential solutions include changing mail handling procedures, changing the USPS anonymous mailing policy installing bio-chem.agent detectors and sterilizing the mail---. Clearly, September 11 incidence in USA marked a turning point in global Postal Services in terms of security consciousness. Viewed from the aggressive manner the Postmaster General of the Federation Nigeria has been pursuing issues relating to dictation and tracking of fake mail instruments, since February 2006 when he was appointed in that capacity; it could be said that NIPOST under his leadership is probably conscious of its new role in National Security.

 

The task before NIPOST therefore, is to double its efforts in this laudable effort of securing and defending the integrity and security of Nigeria via effective interception of fake currencies, related items and security threatening mails/parcels. Federal government should as a matter of urgency, ensure proper funding of NIPOST in the area of security; as could be seen from America experience, there is the urgent need for this all important role of proper funding on the part of government now, to avoid a situation where reactive action would have to be taken in the event of problem. More up to date equipment that could aid the effective functioning of NIPOST should be procured and installed in strategic locations in Nigeria. The security section of NIPOST should be made to be strong, necessary training of personnel should be embarked upon for good results, other progressive actions aimed at shoring up the productivity of NIPOST should be pursued with vigor.

 

Mallam Mori Baba led NIPOST has done very well in keeping checking the activities of those bent at giving Nigeria bad name through their nefarious operations. As 2011 approaches, it is the opinion of this writer that NIPOST should be given adequate attention in terms of strengthening of the security operation of this important establishment. This has become important because of the desperation of politicians to win election at all cost.  

 

Emeka Oraetoka  

Information Management Consultant & Postal Analyst,  

Wrote in From Garki-Abuja. 

e-mail:oramekllis@lycos.com