By Victoria Okpanachi
The Pioneer Director, Institute For Police and Security Policy Research, Dr Charles Omole, has called for improved cooperation among key players to improve security in Nigeria.
He made the call while speaking on the topic: Strengthening National Development Through Effective Security in Nigeria, at the 17th Distinguished Public Lecture of Federal University Lokoja.
According to him, Nigeria must establish a system where the basic needs of its citizens are met, pointing out that poverty, joblessness, and lack of basic needs, are major causes of insecurity.
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Dr Omole acknowledged that some security challenges are deeply rooted in religious and ethnic related issues.
While making reference to countries like Rwanda, and Singapore, Dr Omole, emphasised that these issues were not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but unlike others, was of the view that leaders have failed to take consistent and honest action due to what he noted as weak political will.
The security expert added that many crimes in Nigeria happen because people have motives, means, and opportunities.
According to him, Nigeria needs a holistic approach of both security and development as the nation can’t achieve one without the other.
True security, he explained, includes economic, health, environmental, personal and political stability, Noting that focusing on one while neglecting others only creates imbalance and more challenges.
He lamented that many security issues could be traced to politicians especially during elections, stressing that weapons given to thugs during elections are most often not retrieved after the exercise, leaving the thugs with weapons to cause trouble.
The expert also criticised the flow of illegal arms in the country, stating that 90% of weapons in circulation come from official sources.
Dr. Omole reiterated that insecurity not only harms lives but also damages the economy by scaring away investors, just as he emphasised that security should be the responsibility of everyone .
He then recommended the urgent need for government to invest more in education, job creation, and skill-building programmes to give young people better choices, while engaging in national dialogue, reconciliation, and economic inclusion to reduce tension and strengthen national development.
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, in his address, expressed deep appreciation to the Public lecturer, Dr Omole, for his dedication to national development and public service.
Prof. Akinwumi explained that Dr Omole was initially scheduled to deliver the lecture earlier but was postponed due to the tragic accident that claimed the lives of five students of the institution.
Reaffirming the university’s commitment to national development, the Vice Chancellor stated that the lecture series was one of the institution’s platforms for contributing to policy dialogue and research.
He described the series as a place for intellectual engagement where scholars and experts offer insights into pressing national and global issues.
