Intelligence Gathering and Policy Formulation for Addressing Security Threats in Nigeria

Intelligence has been discussed by many scholars across the globe. But no doubt, there is no universal acceptable definition of intelligence. It is germane to explicate intelligence as the result of information that has been collated, evaluated and interpreted. More so, intelligence is the information that have been processed and originated to be truth and accurate about an object, subject, or group of people. Without accurate and timely intelligence there would not be a functional government or sustainable nationhood. This paper focuses on how government could improve on policy formulations through prompt and accurate intelligence from intelligence community (IC) to frustrate, submerge the activities of hostile intelligence service (HIS) cum local perpetrators of crime. The population of the study comprised of the Nigeria Intelligence Community (IC) which are Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The sample technique adopted was purposive sampling considering the experiences and knowledge of the participants involved in the study, the data collection were both primary and secondary. The primary data was anchored on qualitative research method (in-depth interviews). While the secondary data was relied on textbooks, journals, theses, internet sources, et cetera. The study was affixed on triarchic theory of intelligence to explored the relationship between the policy makers and intelligence community to produce a better policy for the masses. The study comes to conclusion that timely and accurate intelligence must be gathered by the IC and promptly utilized by the PM to form a policy that will curtail any security threats. The study was conducted in Abuja being the Federal Capital Territory, epicentre of intelligence community and seat of power.