The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) is speaking up against what it calls ‘The alarming state of insecurity in Nigeria’. The statement signed by Prof Hassan Saliu, NPSA president, is reproduced in full below:
Nigerians have again been awoken to the spectre of insecurity in their nation. Reports from Benue, Borno, Plateau, and other places in the last few weeks have indicated that Nigerians who live in these parts of the country can no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of the renewed insecurity situation. Before now, the feeling, especially among government officials, was that the country was on the path to subduing insecurity. Many factors have been adduced for why the country has been enveloped by insecurity, ranging from ungoverned spaces to religious fundamentalism, poverty, external conspiracy, unhealthy politicking, and problems arising from inter-group relations. However, as we have consistently maintained, we blame exclusive politics that ignores the people in the nation as the main cause of the insecurity being witnessed.
It is observable that instead of energy being focused on making Nigeria safe for her people to live anywhere they choose in the country, politicians’ attention is focused on the 2027 elections, which no one can predict who will witness. This is the time for our politicians to realize that politics only has meaning when the security of the people’s lives is guaranteed. For now, that is not the case.
That is why some have argued that if an emergency rule is required, it should be directed at the agents of insecurity in the country, not at suspending democratic structures. If the federal government had addressed insecurity seriously, the war declared on it for over two decades would have yielded positive results.
The entrenched insecurity in the nation has many cost dimensions. For instance, no foreign investor will put their money where insecurity is becoming a way of life. For us in the NPSA, the management of the security situation in the country leaves much to be desired; the commitment required to tackle the ever-present insecurity that pervades the land is not being seen. Apart from mouthing about it for over two decades, not much seems to be on the ground to face it head-on.
While we note the President’s charge to the security agencies to brace up in tackling the menace of insecurity, we identify with Nigerians that he needs to do more to stem the tide of insecurity in the nation. As we observed under the immediate past government, there is an urgent need to verify the security reports that come to him with other credible sources to ensure accuracy.
For too long, it appears that the agents of instability have more firepower than the military. This narrative is disturbing and warrants immediate attention. Given the staying power of insurgents, bandits, and others, the situation demands a more robust response.
If the President must be told the truth, managing the security situation has become a huge business. Those concerned have been smiling all the way to the bank, reflecting the general environment of plundering public resources for personal gain.
The lives of Nigerians and their property need to be accorded top priority in the country’s governance. We advise that politicians lower their concern for politics and accord priority to securing the country first.
Mr. President, as the Commander-in-Chief, you can do more to ensure the security of Nigerians. The government needs to rise to the occasion in subduing insecurity by carefully soliciting the involvement of more Nigerians in the war.
The NPSA finds it strange that the agents of instability find it relatively easier to get intelligence about the next moves of the official bearers of instruments of coercion, while one cannot say so of the military. This means that the state’s tormentors have more informants and supporters than the state. This is the secret of their staying power.
There is enough insecurity in Nigeria.
