KWENU: Our Culture, Our Future

Nigeria’s concentric and strategic security matters

MAX GBANITE

New Jersey, USA

Maxgbanite@hotmail.com

Friday, September 10, 2004

Nigerians residing in the United States were shocked to their marrows when in year 2000, immediately after the inauguration of George W. Bush as the President of the United States, he was quoted in the media of asserting that Africa was of no importance to the immediate foreign policy of the United States. It is imperative to understand that the dynamics of politics as played today means that no policy or presidential statement is cast on iron. Every stated policy is amenable to change, because ‘change is constant.’ To demonstrate a change in policy and alignment, the same George Bush visited Nigeria in 2002 as the first Republican President to do so, and the third following in the footsteps of Jimmy Carter in 1978, and Bill Clinton in 1999.

When it comes to strategic alignment and the articulation of envisaged policies, the United States government spares no resources to make sure that an achievable result is attained with reasonableness. Therefore, out of strategic necessity and America’s interest the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington D.C.-based think-tank group and Goldwyn International Strategies – another think-tank had to study the present situation in the Middle East, especially the disruption of continual flow of crude oil to the United States. Their findings were not strategically enduring, and this may have influenced their recommendation to President George Bush led administration to realign its African Policy and, sincerely look to the ‘Gulf of Guinea’ as an alternative source for crude oil. Very brilliant estimation worthy of commendation, and anybody or group who thinks that the United States should not pursue an objective that is in her interest must rethink again.

HISTORICALLY

Eight (8) West African countries namely Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (EG), Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe (STP) signed a treaty establishing the ‘Gulf of Guinea Commission’ on July 3^rd 2001. And further more, articles 56 and 57 of the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea established in 1982 stated that littoral states are allowed claims of 200 nautical miles – ‘Exclusive Economic Zones’. The coastal states within the region are empowered by Article 74(3) of United Nations Convention on the law of sea to create an enabling and workable instrument for regional cooperation to protect their collective interest. The Gulf of Guinea, for the record, stretches from the Atlantic coastline of Nigeria through Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and to Angola. This region has become the most active exploration and production zone for oil and gas in the African continent and possibly the world. Since studies carried out by US groups indicate that the Gulf of Guinea’s oil-bearing basin surpasses that of the Persian Gulf in oil supplies to the U.S. by almost a ratio of 3:1. The region also surpasses the Gulf of Mexico with potential reserves; moreover, it also houses important strategic minerals such as cobalt, chromium, uranium, titanium, diamonds, gold, bauxite, copper, and phosphate etc. Not only these, the region is very rich in Manganese and fisheries to say the least. Given that all these identified resources are considered to be of strategic survival to the US, and the fact that the unstable political environments in the Middle East is threatening the survivability of the US industrial economy and other Nations, especially, the Western economies, it is then proper for the United States government to do everything necessary to protect the United State Interest without apology.

PRESENTLY

Activities within the region have shown that France in an attempt to control the entire area and undermine Nigeria’s capability had played a very unsavory and domineering influence in the Gulf of Guinea. To protect the interest of France, it has stationed a rapid deployment force approximated to be a Division Strength positioned from Senegal to Equatorial Guinea. Most Francophone Countries within West Africa has a French forward Base (FOB) or Home Port Base (HPB) for the French navy, air force and infantry; all to protect France’s interest and that of the ruling party, but not necessarily that of the host nation’s suffering citizens.

There exists evidence as reported in studies conducted by various think-tank groups based in U. K., that Portugal also has marines and patrol vessels base in Sao Tome and Principe, while US, France and China provide Military training to Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon Armed Forces. China is also known to have increased its presence and activities in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea by gradually taking over the complete training and weapons supply of both Countries Armed Forces and Navy. Even Libya is listed to have donated training patrol boats highly equipped with modern weaponry to Sao Tome and Principe in the immediate past. Nations like Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, and Portugal are competing heavily to supply Military logistics to Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea and Angola; all are principal members of the concentric region of the Gulf of Guinea.

It is a known fact that oil, gas and other identified rich resources could easily be the motivating factor for the interests of these Countries, more so the US, especially now that confirmed sources has revealed the current intensification by US to pressure, for instance, both Sao tome and Principe, and Equatorial Guinea to accept supplies and donations of Military hardware, oil exploration and exploitation grants, free construction of seaports and airports, the supply of sophisticated weapons and equipment to support their Armed Forces, assistance in the destruction of sea mines planted by the former soviet Union in the country during the cold – war era, the construction of deep seaport and airport capable of serving as homeport for US Armed forces. International Air Travel Records indicates high volume traffic of travelers between these Countries and the US.

By these actions the US has shown that when it comes to protecting their needs and interests, they will do whatever it takes to achieve the objectives. It is therefore imperative for Nigeria to quickly borrow a page from them.

THE WAY FORWARD

 A peek into the historical archives of Nigeria will show that in the 1960s, during the leadership of Alhaji (Dr.) Tafawa Balewa, no English-speaking country in Africa would even attempt to travel to England for policy discussions without consulting Nigeria for directives. Failure to tell Nigeria, ultimately led to non-implementation because Nigeria would lobby against it.

The same continuation of policy and fostering of closer ties with other nations allowed Nigeria the opportunity to host Commonwealth Conference in 1966. Nigeria has contributed military contingents to every theatre of war namely: the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, peacekeeping operations all over the world, the destruction of apartheid in South Africa, and the restoration of peace in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, the problem remains that the nation itself has not been able to fashion and articulate a strategic policy to enable her benefit from every and all it’s contribution to the restoration for world peace in her own interest.

Nigeria policy makers must as a matter of urgency study the implication of US presence in the Gulf region and take advantage of the situation for the interest of Nigeria and common interest of both nations. The recent UN decision to cede Nigeria territory to Cameroon almost led to war, had it not been for the fact that President Olusegun Obasanjo (a retired general, a veteran of peacekeeping operation in Congo, and an active player in the Nigeria-Biafra War) understands that war is a devastating and catastrophic odyssey. Those who pressured him not to accede to the UN declaration probably failed to read and understand that the French defense-pact-treaty with Cameroon allows all the other Francophone nations surrounding Nigeria to attack Nigeria in the event of war with Cameroon. This indeed is a very serious issue worth considering in future defense of Nigeria’s territory.

In fact Nigeria stands to benefit more if friendly cooperation and collaborations are articulated and affected within the Gulf region. Rather than seeing the Americans as bullies with the intention of undermining Nigeria’s influence within the region, Nigeria should take advantage of the situation by exacting the following policies:

Pressure Sao Tome and Principe to include Nigeria in all the memoranda of understanding signed between the country and any other nation.

Nigeria must be ready to influence regime change in any of the concentric region member nations in the interest of Nigeria. This was demonstrated in Liberia, Gabon, Sierra Leon, Benin, Niger, and even recently in Sao Tome and Principe.

Nigeria should continue to support non oil-producing members within the region with oil and financial assistance whenever the opportunity arises. I commend the latest move by the President in granting loans to Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe.

The United States extends various grants to different agencies in Nigeria as a way of fostering relationship between both countries, while on the other hand seeking to promote economic and political reform in her interest. Nigeria should copy this policy.

 Nigeria should consider allowing the US to establish a Home Port Base (HPB) or Forward Base (FOB) with airport facility along her coastal waters. The benefit is that Nigeria could begin to use same opportunity to lobby for either debt reduction or total forgiveness, and the economic gains will be immense. Nigerian military, especially the navy, will have the opportunity to seek joint patrols of the large coastal waters to checkmate any attacks on both Nigerian and American oil tankers by terrorists, restive youths, and pirates. It allows the Nigerian Navy the opportunity to use American expertise to study and understand the navigation of the blue water for legitimate trade, sea traffic, and fisheries monitoring.

v                  It allows Nigeria to closely monitor what the US intends to do within the region before it is even acted out, while it enables the US to work closely with Nigeria in the areas of advanced military training in modern warfare and the usage of new generation weaponry.

v                  Nigeria should make sure that it has an established military pact of non-aggression with all the countries within the concentric regions and member nations of Gulf of Guinea treaty.

v                  Nigeria must as a matter of ‘National Security and Interest’ invest fifty percent (50%) of the current excess crude revenue on defense and refitting the Armed Forces and Intelligence by making sure all the Forward Bases (FOBs) in Nigeria, especially Escravos, Brass, Bonny, Ibaka are all upgraded and retrofitted with state-of-the-art coastal batteries and radars to cover the nations oil assets located in the Niger Delta and offshore. The Nigerian Navy must be equipped beyond their current defense readiness to be able to have unimpeded, quick, and timely access to all sea activities, and above all collaborate exclusively with the US in patrolling the Gulf and Nigerian coastal waters. This will undoubtedly reduce illegal bunkering, piracy and any act of terrorism.

v            Nigeria must as a matter of urgency seek the cooperation of the US in military activities. However, with an understanding that Nigeria will not accept any intrusion by the US into her internal affairs.

v                  President Obasanjo must insist that the Nigerian Armed Forces should procure all their weapons and equipment directly from the sources (manufacturers) without the involvement of middlemen or contractors.

v                  President Obasanjo must empower the corps of Nigerian Army Engineers and challenge them to rebuild the Armed Forces barracks with direct labor, rebuild all the federal highway bridges within Nigeria, build new ones across Rivers Niger, Benue, and Cross River, and channeling of floods to reduce erosions all over Nigeria.

v                  Nigerian Defense Industry must be empowered to collaborate with Space Agency of Nigeria to provide total radar coverage of Nigeria’s air space and all the ageing crafts being operated by Nigerian Air Force must be replaced with modern ones.

v                  President Obasanjo must as a matter of seriousness empower financially the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA), Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to articulate strategic policies that will be the driving force of foreign policy. Even university dons and retired military officers from the ranks of majors to generals, and the National War College should be constituted at different times to formulate policies that can lead to better understanding of Nigeria’s neighbors, within the concentric regions and strategic regions.

v                  Nigeria has been given another opportunity to assert its leadership in Africa with the election of President Obasanjo as the new AU President. The recent problem in Darfur Sudan and Ivory Coast should serve as an opportunity for Nigeria to lobby for a permanent seat in the UN Security council where no African Nation is a member, and further cancellation of her debt before sending, forces to the area. After all, without apology to anyone, Nigeria has and will continue to sacrifice for the unity of Africa and Peaceful coexistence of all nations. It is approximated that Nigeria has lost over 10,000 soldiers since the First World War, the Second World War, and peacekeeping operations around the world. Currently, there are well over 15,000 soldiers and policemen from Nigeria participating in peacekeeping activities around the world, and another 5,000 professional volunteers technical corps assisting certain African nations in areas of medicine, law and other technical services.

v                  Nigeria must constantly review its defense preparedness by establishing guidelines for the Air Force, Navy, Army, and all existing intelligence.

v                  National Security Agency (NSA) must be empowered financial to collate and analyze intelligence data gathered by all the existing security agencies to give Nigeria added advantage within the region.

Therefore, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi was very correct in asserting that the national leadership must take the US action with seriousness by articulating the way forward for the country. I also state unequivocally that collaboration with US is the best option, because it gives Nigeria added clout to lead and not bully her neighbors and, the opportunity to rebuild and strengthen her military and the continuation of political and economic reform all in the interest of Nigeria.

August 10, 2004