**Interview with Louis Achi on Nigeria’s Intelligence Restructuring and Governance Challenges**
**Interviewer:** Louis, you’ve recently provided insights into the ongoing transformation within Nigeria’s intelligence community under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Can you elaborate on the challenges that have historically plagued this sector?
**Louis Achi:** Absolutely. The world of espionage teaches us that secrecy is crucial. As the legendary British spy Roger Moore, who played James Bond, once said, “You can’t be a real spy and have everybody in the world know who you are and what your drink is.” This principle of maintaining confidentiality has been a significant weakness in Nigeria’s intelligence community, affecting both operational effectiveness and security outcomes. Unfortunately, this oversight has had repercussions not only within intelligence but also in military operations.
**Interviewer:** With that context, how has President Tinubu responded to these challenges since taking office?
**Louis Achi:** President Tinubu has shown a strong awareness of Nigeria’s pressing security issues. On August 26, 2024, he took decisive action by restructuring the intelligence community. This involved appointing Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), alongside Mohammed Mohammed as the head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). This was a significant shift from the previous administration’s leadership.
**Interviewer:** What changes did Ajayi implement upon his appointment, and what impact have they had?
**Louis Achi:** Ajayi, who took the reins at DSS on August 28, immediately signaled a return to the fundamentals of covert operations. Drawing on his 30 years of experience in intelligence and security management, he’s already made significant strides. There’s a growing sentiment that his leadership could mark a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s ongoing battles with issues like terrorism and kidnapping.
Since taking office, he has adopted a robust strategy that integrates intelligence-led operations with community engagement and inter-agency coordination. This approach has resulted in the arrests of 76 individuals linked to kidnapping and arms trafficking, showcasing the effectiveness of these new strategies.
**Interviewer:** Could you give us an example of these tactics in action?
**Louis Achi:** Certainly. In the Northwest, Ajayi’s psychological operations targeted banditry, leading to the neutralization of notorious gang leaders. For instance, recent operations in Kaduna resulted in the capture of a major arms supplier to these criminal organizations. Additionally, his previous roles have provided him with insights that have facilitated successful raids against high-profile terror figures in the North Central Zone.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like Ajayi is making a significant impact. Switching gears, could you discuss the broader governance issues you’ve identified in Nigeria under President Tinubu?
**Louis Achi:** The governance challenges in Nigeria largely stem from a flawed approach to budgeting. Since independence in 1960, we’ve seen political leaders treat budgeting merely as a financial exercise rather than as a means to optimize institutional resources for better public service delivery. Observers have noted that since Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, his focus has been primarily on financial management, as seen in his recent tax bill submitted to the National Assembly. However, there hasn’t been a serious push to restructure how institutional resources are applied in governance.
**Interviewer:** What would you suggest as a path forward for improving governance in Nigeria?
**Louis Achi:** To truly enhance governance, there needs to be a fundamental reform in how budgeting is viewed and utilized. Instead of merely focusing on fiscal outcomes, budgeting should be treated as a strategic planning tool aimed at effective resource management. This shift would promote better coordination within the bureaucracy and ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of public service delivery.
Implementing these reforms would empower elected officials to foster accountability, leading to a more structured public service that thrives on robust auditing and fully engaged bureaucratic capabilities. Ultimately, unless these necessary changes are embraced, the hope for improved governance and poverty alleviation for citizens will continue to be just that—a hope.
**Interviewer:** That sounds like a critical issue that requires urgent attention. Thank you for your insights, Louis. For those interested in a deeper dive into these challenges, can you recommend any resources?
**Louis Achi:** Definitely. I highly recommend Dr. Emeka Ejikonye’s book, “Public Budgeting as Key for Public Accountability and Good Governance.” It offers a comprehensive look into these vital topics and suggests ways forward for Nigeria’s governance reform.
