Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), has cautioned that Nigeria’s persistent insecurity is eroding national development, weakening democratic institutions, and diminishing citizens’ trust in government.
Speaking at a public lecture titled “Federalism and the crisis of Security in Nigeria,” organised by the Institute, Sulaiman stressed that security is the bedrock of sustainable development, economic growth, and democratic governance.
He warned that once security deteriorates, its impact extends far beyond threats to lives and property, affecting institutional performance, governance credibility, and the stability of democratic structures.
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According to him, the prolonged nature of insecurity across Nigeria has intensified public concerns about the effectiveness of existing governance and security frameworks.
He therefore called for deeper national reflection, inclusive dialogue, and structural reforms capable of strengthening institutional responses to emerging threats.
Sulaiman emphasised that resolving the country’s security challenges requires more than operational measures.
He argued that a reassessment of Nigeria’s federal arrangement and governance responsibilities is necessary to build a system capable of ensuring safety, stability, and accountability.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof. James Nda Jacob identified weak institutional accountability as a major obstacle to effective security governance.
