Experts at the Platform Nigeria event have called for a major shift in Nigeria’s approach to national security, warning that the country’s insecurity challenges cannot be solved by changing security leadership alone without addressing deeper governance and institutional failures.
Speaking at the event themed ‘Governance, Democracy and National Security’ on June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the experts said insecurity must be treated as a broader national challenge involving governance, economic policies, justice, and democratic accountability.
They said Nigeria’s security challenges require more than military responses, calling for stronger institutions, accountable leadership, and policies that protect citizens while strengthening democratic values.
Charles Omole, a security consultant, said Nigeria must rethink its security strategy, adding that the country has focused too much on replacing personnel while leaving structural problems unresolved.
He compared the situation to repeatedly changing drivers while travelling in the wrong direction, stressing that leadership changes within security agencies would not produce lasting results without a change in approach.
