Nigeria’s insecurity crisis requires whole-of-government approach – Platform Nigeria

Experts at the Platform Nigeria event have called for a major shift in Nigeria’s approach to national security, warning that the country’s insecurity challenges cannot be solved by changing security leadership alone without addressing deeper governance and institutional failures.

Speaking at the event themed ‘Governance, Democracy and National Security’ on June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the experts said insecurity must be treated as a broader national challenge involving governance, economic policies, justice, and democratic accountability.

They said Nigeria’s security challenges require more than military responses, calling for stronger institutions, accountable leadership, and policies that protect citizens while strengthening democratic values.

Charles Omole, a security consultant, said Nigeria must rethink its security strategy, adding that the country has focused too much on replacing personnel while leaving structural problems unresolved.

He compared the situation to repeatedly changing drivers while travelling in the wrong direction, stressing that leadership changes within security agencies would not produce lasting results without a change in approach.

According to him, insecurity should not be viewed as only the responsibility of the police and military, but as a challenge requiring action from every part of the government.

“Security is the job of the whole government,” Omole said, adding that policies in areas such as education, land management, urban planning, justice, and the economy can either reduce or worsen insecurity.

He called for a preventive security model, recommending that government policies and major projects undergo security impact assessments before implementation to identify possible risks.

Ayo Obe, a Lawyer and columnist, also warned against separating security from democratic governance, saying lasting security depends on public trust, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

She argued that human rights protections should not be seen as a barrier to effective security operations.

“Human rights and security are not enemies. They are partners,” Obe said.

She urged security agencies to focus on evidence-based investigations rather than relying on ethnic, religious, or political identities when addressing crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, and violent attacks.

Obe said political leaders must provide clear security plans to citizens and ensure insecurity is not exploited as a political tool.

Bukola Saraki, former Senate president, stressed that strong democratic institutions are essential to tackling national security challenges, while also noting that unchecked concentration of power weakens governance.

Saraki said the legislature plays a critical role in ensuring accountability, particularly through oversight of government borrowing, appointments, budgets, and policies that affect citizens.

“The National Assembly was created to serve as a check on executive authority and ensure that citizens’ interests are represented,” he said, adding that democracy works when power is balanced among the executive, legislature, and judiciary, describing the legislature as a guarantor of democratic stability.

Poju Oyemade, senior pastor at Covenant Christian Centre, reflected on the sacrifices behind Nigeria’s democratic journey, saying the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today were achieved through struggle rather than being handed down by leaders.

Speaking on the June 12 struggle, Oyemade said many citizens risked their careers, safety, and lives in the fight for democratic rights.

“Democracy is not a gift that was handed on to us, but something that people struggled for,” he stated.