Yemisi Izuora
Former Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday stressed the need for concerted efforts to quickly tackle the problem of insecurity rocking the country, saying the nation’s security situation will shape the 2027 general elections.
Mohammed spoke at the 7th yearly lecture of Freedom Online, held in Lagos on Thursday with the theme, “2027 elections, Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future.” where he was joined by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senator Gbenga Daniel .
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was the chairman of the occasion, said it is important to note, first, that security is the precondition for economic growth.
“No business thrives in an atmosphere of uncertainty, and no foreign or local investor deploys capital where safety cannot be guaranteed. In turn, political stability depends on economic inclusion. When young people are gainfully employed and see a clear path to self-actualisation, the political space becomes far less susceptible to manipulation and electoral violence
‘’For seven years running, Freedom Online has kept faith with a simple but increasingly rare commitment: to inform without fear and to provoke thought without malice.
“Second, the 2027 election must be viewed not merely as a contest for power, but as a commitment to continuity and nation-building. Politics must never be allowed to override governance. The real measure of our democratic progress is whether our electoral outcomes strengthen institutions, bolster investor confidence and guarantee peace across our communities.
“The efforts being made by the administration to stabilise the economy, attract investment, improve security and create a more sustainable foundation for growth deserve constructive engagement from all stakeholders, ” he said.
Mohammed noted the media have a crucial role to play in the sustenance of democracy, saying, “having spent a considerable part of my public life in public communication, I have come to appreciate that the media is not merely an observer of national events. It is an important participant in shaping the national conversation. In an election season, that responsibility becomes even greater. The media has the power to inform citizens, interrogate claims, expose falsehoods and provide a platform for competing ideas.”
Sanwo-Olu who was the Special Guest Speaker at the event said in communities where banditry and insurgency persist, insecurity will determine whether a candidate can campaign or whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can move in voting materials or whether voters will come out to vote.
Snwo-Olu, who said another issue is the matter of perception added that people vote on how safe they feel, saying, “And I believe Nigerians can see, because they are not blind, that this president has taken the security of this country as seriously as any Commander -in- Chief since 1999.
“Consider what has been done in three years. In July, the president approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight divisions to twelve, with 28,000 additional personnel and new divisional headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, closer to the theatres where they are needed.” Sanwo-Olu explained.
He stated that in order for insecurity to be reduced to the barest minimum, the president supported the Bill for the creation of state police, an initiative he said Lagos State has started by setting up Lagos State Security Trust Fund, whereby polls contributions from private sector and the state are put together to equip the police and other agencies that keep the state safe.
He said the move of the president to reduce insecurity has also improved the economy, because the economy has grown from 3.89 percent to 4.43percent, while the Agriculture sector has grown to 4.6 percent from 2.82 per cent.
Senator Daniel in his own submission said Nigeria cannot have a strong economy without security, and it cannot have lasting security without a strong economy, stressing that the two are inseparable.
He explained that Nigeria ‘s economy has recorded encouraging signs, including growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, with agriculture and services showing improvement.
He explained that the true test of economic progress is not only what appears in GDP figures, but what Nigerians experience in their daily lives.
“Security is not merely a matter for the military, police and other agencies. It is also an essential part of economic infrastructure, “Daniel said.
Earlier, the publisher of Freedom Online, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo said the need to match political activities in the country with rapid development informed the lecture.
“We are here to draw a line between governance and politics. When does politics stop? When does development start? When are we going to stop playing politics with development? In a few months, exactly May 29, 2027, Nigeria will have 28 years of unbroken civilian administration, which is a milestone in history of the most populous black nation.
“It can be argued that politically the country is forging ahead, but what of other sectors? The task before us today is very simple. We can’t continue to use the system adopted in the 60s to govern Nigeria of 2026 and beyond. By 2027, we must modernize our laws to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century.”
Also speaking at the event, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu said there was the need to strengthen the institutions, and that is the only way the economy will grow, and attract investors.
“We need to have transparent elections, elections have further polarised us. Our institutions should be strengthened so that people will have confidence in the system. We must speak truth to power. We have no other country, we believe in the country.”