The Role of Technology in Enhancing National Security.

Abstract

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming rise in the level of insecurity through acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and cybercrimes, among others, with devastating consequences on livelihoods and national security.  These acts appear to have compromised all strategic efforts aimed at tracking and resolving them. This paper, therefore, examines the role of technology in developing a security architecture that will resolve the national security dilemma of the nation. The data for the paper are from secondary sources, and the data are analysed using the arguments of Cybernetic theory.  The paper discovered that, despite attempts to digitalize the Nigerian security system, lack of a robust technological security architecture has hampered these efforts as a result of inappropriate software, the uncooperative attitude of the service providers, corruption, the high cost of acquiring equipment, poor orientation and adaptability of technology by security operatives, and poor power supply. To resolve this problem, the paper recommends the constitutional integration of technology into Nigeria's national security architecture, as well as the proactive deployment of technology security solutions, capacity building, and power sector reforms within the security sector.

Keywords: Technology, National security, Terrorism, Cyber Space, and Corruption