Abuja: Director-General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has identified security as the foundation upon which sustainable development, economic progress, and democratic governance are built. Sulaiman made this statement in Abuja during a public lecture organized by the institute.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lecture was untitled ‘Federalism and the Crisis of Security in Nigeria.’ Sulaiman warned that insecurity posed a grave threat to national development, democratic stability, and citizens’ confidence in governance. He emphasized that when security is compromised, the consequences extend beyond immediate threats to lives and property, undermining institutional effectiveness, weakening democratic structures, and eroding public trust in government.
The director-general noted that the persistence of insecurity across the country had intensified concerns and the need for informed national dialogue and institutional reforms. He stressed that addressing Nigeria’s security challenges required not only operational responses but also deeper reflection on the country’s federal structure and the role of governance in ensuring safety and stability. The public lecture, he said, was part of NILDS’ ongoing commitment to promoting evidence-based discourse and strengthening legislative and democratic institutions in support of national security.
The Guest Lecturer, Prof. James Jacob, identified weak institutional accountability as a major challenge to effective security governance in Nigeria. Jacob explained that sub-national governments often lacked the constitutional autonomy to respond decisively to security threats without federal approval. He further highlighted Nigeria’s complex ethnic, religious, and regional dynamics, noting that these divisions often generated grievances that could escalate into violent conflicts if not properly managed. Jacob also criticised the over-centralisation of security architecture in the country, saying it often delayed operational responses, undermined local intelligence gathering, and weakened collaboration between communities and security agencies.