Author(s) :

AREN PALANG PETER, ISAAC OZOEMENAM MBACHU, PhD mni.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This study investigates the role of intelligence gathering in promoting national security in Nigeria, focusing on the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kaduna State (2015–2022). It recognises intelligence as the foundation of effective security architecture, particularly in contexts of complex threats. Guided by Gabriel Almond’s Structural Functionalist theory, the study examines how the DSS contributes to threat detection, conflict prevention, and stability. It analyses intelligence tools, institutional and technological constraints, and strategic options for enhancing efficiency. A mixed-method design was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. Using Taro Yamane’s formula, 270 questionnaires were administered to DSS personnel, complemented by 15 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs (MISHAKS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, mean ranking, and thematic analysis. Findings show that the DSS is central to mitigating internal threats but faces challenges such as outdated surveillance tools, weak inter-agency collaboration, limited training, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Despite this, the DSS leverages coping strategies including human intelligence (HUMINT), community engagement, and institutional reforms to strengthen early warning and information flow. The study concludes that a reformed, well-resourced, and technologically equipped DSS can significantly enhance domestic intelligence and national security. It recommends targeted investment in surveillance infrastructure, stronger inter-agency synergy, and decentralised intelligence functions to build resilience against security threats.

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