Trends, Patterns and Processes of Information Management by the Nigerian Army in the United Nations Peace Support Operations in Liberia
- September 13, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Danjibo Nathaniel D, Koleoso Mobolaji A, Henry Olusegun Hamilton
Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract:- Nigeria has been involved in the United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSOs) since independence. Nigeria’s Peacekeeping Operations with the direction of the trends, patterns and processes of information acquisition and the Nigerian Army’s (NA) Information Management in the UNPSO in Liberia were studied. The study adopted the Cohen’s Agenda Setting and employed a triangulation research design. Twenty-eight officers and 172 soldiers were purposively sampled from Nigerian Battalions (NIBATTs) 36 and 37 that served in Liberia while 18 in-depth interviews were conducted with heads of military units in Liberia. Two key informant interviews were conducted with one Commanding Officer and the Military Assistant to the Force Commander. Secondary data were collected from Nigerian Army Signal Messages, Part One and Part Two Orders and the United Nations documents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was content analysed.The critical role of information management in decision making was reflected by 192 (96.0%) of respondents who affirmed that adequate information management was crucial to the success of Peace Support Operations (PSOs) in Liberia. Also, 182 (91.0%) of the respondents averred that Information Management processes in NA PSOs in Liberia included communication links, satellites, cables and procedures, formats and filters for information transport and retrieval. Furthermore, 184 (92.0%) of the respondents held that trends and patterns of information on the NA in PSOs in Liberia was well managed and protected by both officers and soldiers. Information acquisition processes, trends and patterns of information management by Nigerian Army in PSOs in Liberia were in form of open sources like visual observations by patrol and authorised flights, open communication with belligerent forces and local populations while the act of cryptography or sending coded messages was employed as patterns for information sharing. Though beset with information sharing and coordination challenges, strategic information management by the Nigerian Army contingent enhanced operational efficiency and contributed to the overall success of the United Nations Peace Support Operations in Liberia. However, to achieve a more efficient and reliable management of information resource in PSOs, synergy on information management trends, patterns and processes among the different military battalions in the PSO should be encouraged.
Keywords: Information management, Trends, Patterns, Processes, Nigerian Army, United Nations Peace Support Operations in Liberia
