A Call for People-Centred Reforms and Constitutional Restructuring
Nigeria’s national security policies have come under intense scrutiny from legal experts, security analysts, and civic leaders. These individuals argue that the government’s counter-terrorism and policing strategies are increasingly creating new victims rather than protecting citizens. This concern was highlighted during the Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards 2025, where prominent figures such as Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN), Major General (Dr) James Alilu Atagura (rtd), and Pastor Dele Adesina (SAN) called for a radical shift in Nigeria’s approach to security.
The event emphasized the need for a people-centred approach to national safety, which must be built on justice, human rights, and good governance. The speakers stressed that true security cannot be achieved through force alone but requires the protection of rights, economic empowerment, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
The Moral Responsibility of Safeguarding Citizens
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who was represented by Mr. Raymond Kamibel, described the event as a reaffirmation of the nation’s moral responsibility to safeguard the rights and dignity of its most vulnerable citizens. He stated:
“Today, we are united by that conviction and by a shared determination to make it real in our societies at a time of rising national insecurity with consequential implications for the human rights of citizens, particularly those in the vulnerable segment of society.”
Olanipekun commended participants for their commitment to justice and humanity, describing the gathering as “more than a conference” but “a space for reflection, collaboration, and action.” He noted that as Nigeria grapples with challenges ranging from shrinking civic spaces and gender-based violence to inequality, climate injustice, and digital rights concerns, the voice of conscience must not be silent.
“The struggle for human rights is not an abstract ideal,” he said. “It is lived every day in the courage of whistleblowers, the persistence of activists, the compassion of volunteers, and the integrity of institutions that choose fairness over convenience.”
He urged participants to seize the moment to build bridges between generations, between ideas and action, and between local realities and global aspirations. “Let us listen deeply, debate respectfully, and emerge with renewed clarity about the role each of us must play in advancing human rights for all,” he charged, expressing optimism that the deliberations would lead to practical solutions and stronger partnerships for a more humane society.
The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulnerable Populations
Delivering the keynote address entitled, “The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulnerable Populations: A Human Rights Perspective,” Professor Yusuf Ali (SAN) warned that the nation’s counter-terrorism and law enforcement policies have strayed dangerously from constitutional safeguards, resulting in widespread human rights violations and deepening public mistrust.
According to him, the poor, women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have become consistent casualties of a system designed to protect them. He declared:
“The reality is that many of our security measures have turned citizens into victims. We have created a system where the people we are supposed to protect are being displaced, detained, or deprived of dignity under the guise of national security.”
Prof. Ali maintained that the essence of national security must be people-centred. “True security cannot be achieved by force alone,” he noted. “It requires the protection of rights, economic empowerment, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. Where the state fails to uphold the rule of law or meet basic needs, insecurity will persist regardless of the number of guns or troops deployed.”
He cited the dire humanitarian situations in the North-East and Middle Belt, where millions of displaced citizens live in squalid conditions, exposed to hunger, disease, and exploitation. According to him, “The absence of accountability in security operations has fostered impunity among some military and police units, eroding citizens’ faith in state institutions.”
Prof. Ali specifically criticized sections of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, which allow prolonged detention without trial, describing such provisions as both unconstitutional and contrary to international human rights obligations voluntarily undertaken by Nigeria.
“Laws designed to fight terrorism should not themselves become tools of terror,” he cautioned. He called for mandatory human rights education across the armed forces and intelligence agencies, stronger legislative oversight of executive powers, and inclusion of affected communities particularly IDPs, women, and youth in national security policymaking.
“Security must never be an excuse for injustice,” Ali concluded. “When citizens lose faith in the fairness of the state, the battle for national security is already lost.”
A Military Perspective on Insecurity
Offering a military perspective, retired Major General (Dr.) James Alilu Atagura identified corruption, weak governance, and the lack of a reward and punishment system as the root causes of Nigeria’s persistent insecurity. He lamented that impunity has eroded the moral authority of state institutions, emboldening criminality across the political class and beyond.
“Can anyone genuinely go to court and expect justice without bias?” he asked. “We see election malpractice, certificate forgery, and corruption go unpunished. Governors finish eight years and vanish when the EFCC comes knocking, while their predecessors remain in court 15 years later. Without justice, society reverts to a state of nature.”
Atagura also faulted the government’s continued reliance on the military for internal security operations, warning that the over-deployment of soldiers in civil spaces not only violates constitutional boundaries but also aggravates tension.
“The military should not be embedded among civilians. When soldiers act outside their defined scope, they create more problems,” he warned. He added that insecurity is only a symptom of deeper social decay. “Even if Boko Haram is defeated today, another group will rise tomorrow because the root causes remain unaddressed poverty, unemployment, and the collapse of public institutions.”
Constitutional Reform and Decentralization
Joining the debate, Pastor Dele Adesina (SAN) linked the nation’s persistent security crisis to what he described as the “foundational defects of the 1999 Constitution.” He argued that the document is inherently unitary in character and incapable of supporting a truly federal system of government.
“How can governors be chief security officers when they lack control over law enforcement?” he queried. Citing Sections 214 and 215 of the Constitution, which restrict governors’ authority over Commissioners of Police, Adesina said no genuine federation operates a centralised police system.
“We have a structure that concentrates power at the centre and leaves the federating units helpless in protecting their own people,” he said, calling for urgent constitutional reform to decentralise policing and restore accountability.
He urged political leaders to embrace courage and honesty in reforming Nigeria’s governance architecture, insisting that security challenges will persist as long as the structure remains defective.
Addressing the Root Causes of Insecurity
Earlier, the founder of Gavel International, Mr. Mustapha Adekunle Ogunsakin, said the annual lecture was conceived to draw urgent attention to the worsening security crisis and the state’s constitutional duty to protect its citizens. He lamented that despite recurring national tragedies from insurgency to kidnappings and communal clashes, political leaders have largely remained indifferent, more concerned with partisan interests than national healing.
Ogunsakin stressed that insecurity is not rooted in religion or ethnicity but in poor governance and the failure of leadership. He called on all tiers of government to recommit to justice, transparency, and service to the people.
“The safety of Nigerians should not be a privilege,” he said. “It is a constitutional promise, and the sooner our leaders understand that, the sooner we can rebuild public confidence and national unity.”
