Foreign Intelligence Influence And Ecosystem In Nigeria Should Be Unravelled — PeacePro

The Foundation for Peace Professionals, PeacePro, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the foreign intelligence influence ecosystem in Nigeria, warning that scrutiny must extend beyond formally funded civil society organisations and media houses.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, PeacePro said the probe should examine the wider networks through which foreign interests may shape public opinion, policy and national discourse in Nigeria.

—-Beyond Funding: Examine Relationships And Influence—

PeacePro argued that the focus should not be limited to who receives foreign resources.

“The question is not simply who funds these organisations or engages these individuals. The bigger question is who is influencing whom, through what channels, for what purpose and ultimately in whose interest?” Hamzat said.

According to the organisation, a Nigerian does not need to knowingly cooperate with a foreign intelligence operation to become useful to it.

“A Nigerian can be completely unaware of an intelligence operation and still become useful to foreign strategic interests. What begins as research, advocacy, media engagement, fellowship, consultancy, conference participation, funding or a personal relationship may acquire strategic value beyond what the individual initially understands.”

PeacePro therefore called for examination of the broader ecosystem. This includes funding arrangements, research partnerships, fellowships, consultancies, sponsored campaigns, media relationships, digital influence networks, strategic communications and access to sensitive information.

—Not All Foreign Engagement Is Espionage—

The group however cautioned against equating all foreign engagement with espionage.

“Foreign funding is not automatically proof of espionage. But neither should the language of development assistance make Nigerians incapable of asking whether strategic interests accompany foreign resources,” it stated.

PeacePro stressed that scrutiny must be universal and non-partisan.

“If Nigeria is serious about sovereignty, nobody should be above scrutiny, not government, not civil society, not the media, not influencers, not political actors and not foreign partners.”

—Call For National Counter Intelligence Awareness—

The organisation said the investigation should lead to a national counter intelligence awareness framework to equip Nigerians to recognise potential manipulation, recruitment and exploitation.

It proposed structured awareness programmes for journalists, academics, researchers, influencers, civil society actors, political actors and other professionals who regularly interact with foreign institutions.

Such programmes, PeacePro said, should help citizens identify warning signs. These include unusual approaches for sensitive information, attempts to cultivate privileged relationships, unexplained financial or logistical support, requests for confidential information and efforts to influence public opinion or policy through concealed interests.

“A Nigerian does not have to know that an intelligence operation exists before becoming useful to it. An informed citizenry is one of the strongest protections against manipulation.”

—Safe Reporting Channels Needed—

PeacePro also urged government to establish lawful and confidential channels through which citizens who suspect they are being approached or exploited by foreign interests can seek guidance without automatically being treated as suspects.

Hamzat said Nigeria must move beyond asking how foreign intelligence might use Nigerians. The country, he added, needs the capacity to understand foreign strategic interests, protect sensitive national information and negotiate international relationships from a position of knowledge and confidence.

“The strongest counter intelligence system is not one that merely watches Nigerians. It is one that makes Nigerians difficult to manipulate,” the statement concluded.