An expert in trade operations, Dr Eugene Nweke, has urged the Federal Government to improve on border management and inter-agency collaboration to address the lingering insecurity in Nigeria.
Nweke made the call in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Abuja as Nigeria marks Democracy Day.
He said that enhanced border management would address the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which remained one of the greatest threats to peace and stability in Nigeria.
“No nation can sustainably secure its future while dangerous weapons remain readily available to criminal elements,” he said.
He said that the fight against insecurity should extend beyond military engagements and weapons procurement to include enhanced intelligence gathering, technological surveillance and judicial reforms.
The Head of Research, Sea and Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC) emphasised the importance of community-based security partnerships and a proactive national programme aimed at identifying, tracking and recovering illegal arms circulating within the country.
According to him, as political activities gradually intensify ahead of 2027 elections, national security should remain the primary focus of governance.
“Citizens desire a secure environment more than political rhetoric. The true foundation of electoral credibility is public safety, social stability, and confidence in state institutions.
“Mr President, beyond security lies another pressing challenge, the economy and the welfare of the Nigerian people.
“The reality of hardship confronting many households today cannot be ignored.
“Rising living costs, unemployment, food insecurity, declining purchasing power and economic uncertainty have placed enormous burdens on ordinary citizens,” he said.
A genuine policy for peace, he said, must include economic inclusion, food security, affordable healthcare, quality education, youth empowerment, infrastructure development, energy stability, industrial growth and sustainable job creation.
He noted that the economic hardship was a trigger to social instability, saying that a hungry population was vulnerable to frustration, criminal exploitation and social unrest.
Economic reforms, he said though necessary, should be complemented by targeted interventions that protect vulnerable Nigerians while stimulating productivity, investment and employment.
“I respectfully urge your administration to continually assess the social impact of ongoing reforms and strengthen mechanisms that cushion the most vulnerable segments of society.
“Mr President, leadership is often tested not during moments of comfort but during periods of national difficulty. At such times, citizens look beyond policy announcements, they seek empathy, reassurance, transparency and measurable outcomes.”
According to him, the approach to 2027 should not become a distraction from governance, rather, governance itself should become the strongest campaign.
“Nigerians desire evidence of improved security, economic recovery, institutional efficiency, educational advancement, infrastructure growth and social justice.
“The nation equally expects all political actors to place Nigeria above personal ambitions, partisan interests, ethnic sentiments, and sectional considerations,” he said.
He emphasised that democracy must remain anchored on service, accountability and national unity.
Nigeria, he said, remained blessed with immense human capital, entrepreneurial ingenuity, strategic geographic advantages, abundant natural resources and a resilient population.
He said that the country should leverage on the digital transformation to boost its economy and develop further its human resources.
“Nigeria must deliberately position itself to compete and thrive within this rapidly evolving global landscape through sustained investments in education, research, technology, and human capital development.
“As our nation approaches another milestone in its democratic journey, history will judge our generation not merely by the challenges we inherited but by the solutions we courageously pursued,” he said.
According to him, the path forward for Nigeria requires security with justice, economic growth with inclusion, politics with responsibility and leadership with compassion.
He expressed confidence that with committed leadership, collective sacrifice and national unity, Nigeria could overcome the present difficulties being experienced.
