The biggest threat to Nigeria today is no longer inflation.
It is no longer unemployment.
It is no longer even corruption.
The biggest threat to Nigeria today is FEAR.
Because a country where citizens are afraid to travel…
afraid to farm…
afraid to go to school…
afraid to attend church…
afraid to attend mosque…
afraid to invest…
is a country slowly shutting down its own economy.
Let us stop pretending.
Something is not working.
And Nigerians know it.
Every day we wake up to the same headlines:
“Kidnapped.”
“Abducted.”
“Ransom demanded.”
“Killed.”
“Missing.”
At first it was highways.
Then villages.
Then schools.
Then churches.
Then farms.
Today it feels like nowhere is truly safe anymore.
And what worries me the most is not even the kidnappers.
It is the normalization of insecurity.
Because…
Many Nigerians have become so used to bad news that they simply scroll past it.
But every kidnapping is not just a security problem.
It is an economic problem.
It is an education problem.
It is an agricultural problem.
It is an investment problem.
It is a national development problem.
When farmers abandon farms because of fear…
Food prices rise.
When children stop going to school because of fear…
The future becomes weaker and disaster.
When investors stay away because of fear…
Jobs disappear.
When doctors leave because of fear…
Healthcare suffers.
When businesses relocate because of fear…
Economic growth slows down.
Security is not one sector of the economy.
Security IS the economy.
Nothing works without it.
Now let me say something that may sound uncomfortable.
Many governors across the 36 State of Nigeria are also part of this problem.
Because….
Every time insecurity is mentioned in any state, the common response is:
“Governors don’t control the police and military.”
Fine.
That may be true.
But let me ask a simple question.
What is stopping governors from supporting Desame security agencies operating within their states?
What is stopping state governments from ensuring police stations have operational vehicles?
What is stopping state governments from ensuring security formations have fuel?
What is stopping state governments from providing technology, surveillance systems, drones and communication equipment?
What is stopping state governments from building intelligence networks within local communities?
Because let’s face the truth:
A poorly paid police officer cannot chase criminals with an empty stomach.
A security officer cannot fight crime with empty promises.
A security agency cannot function effectively without logistics.
Go around Nigeria.
You will find security formations struggling with basic operational resources.
You will find personnel working under difficult conditions.
You will find stations lacking equipment.
You will find officers risking their lives daily with limited support.
Then we wonder why insecurity persists.
Let me be honest.
If Nigeria truly wants to win this battle, the first thing we must do is stop treating security spending as expenditure.
It is an investment.
And perhaps the most important investment a country can make.
The United States that every country admire today did not become a global power by accident.
One thing America understands very well is that…
National security protects everything else.
Their investments in security, intelligence gathering, technology, logistics and defense infrastructure are enormous.
Why?
Because they understand that investors only go where they feel protected.
Businesses only grow where they feel protected.
Citizens only prosper where they feel protected.
Now imagine….
Every police station and military barracks in Nigeria had:
• Reliable operational vehicles
• Guaranteed fuel supply
• Functional communication systems
• Surveillance support
• Modern intelligence tools
• Better working conditions
Imagine every state government partnered directly with security agencies to strengthen operations.
Imagine local communities had structured intelligence-sharing networks.
Imagine response times were reduced significantly.
Imagine security personnel were properly motivated.
Imagine the profession became attractive again to talented young Nigerians.
Because let us be honest.
Many young Nigerians no longer see security services as attractive careers.
And one of the reasons is obvious.
People are naturally drawn toward professions where they feel valued, respected and supported.
No country can neglect the welfare of those protecting it and expect outstanding results.
Now before anybody misunderstands me…
I am not saying throwing money at security will solve everything.
No.
Crime is also connected to poverty.
Crime is connected to unemployment.
Crime is connected to drugs.
Crime is connected to weak institutions.
Crime is connected to failed leadership at different levels.
But security remains the foundation.
Without security…
Nothing else stands.
Not agriculture.
Not education.
Not healthcare.
Not infrastructure.
Not investment.
Not economic growth.
Nothing.
And that is why I strongly believe that any President, Governor, Senator, House of Representatives Member or Local Government Chairman who genuinely reduces insecurity in his area has already created one of the greatest everlasting legacies possible.
Because when people feel safe…
They farm.
They invest.
They travel.
They build businesses.
They send children to school.
They create jobs.
They create prosperity.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
History will not remember how many speeches were delivered
History will remember whether Nigerians felt safer under your watch.
Because one secure community can create more prosperity than ten political campaigns.
And one safe Nigeria can unlock more Global economic opportunities than any economic policy ever written.
The question is no longer whether insecurity is affecting Nigeria.
The question is:
How much longer can Nigeria afford it?
May God have mercy before its get too late on Nigeria.
This writer has raised serious issues of serious business demanding serious attention of the Federal Government and the 36 States Governments.
The Federal Government and the 36 States Governments need to face new direction and adopt new priorities if they are to move these ideas from words to action. To achieve this, they need to fully implement all good ideas and pertinent suggestions set out in the IVASNS website, www.ivasns.org
We hereby invite the Federal Government and the 36 State Governments to work with our organization to tackle insecurity challenges alongside other challenges facing Governments in Nigeria through adopting holistic or comprehensive approach that works in each specific community, in each of the 774 Local Governments, in each of the 36 States and FCT as well as National and International levels in Nigeria.
We urge the Federal Government and 36 States Government to genuinely recognise that continuing with business as usual guarantee ultimate catastrophic consequences for our fragile country but crossing over to business unusual promise amazing transformation in our country.
