Director-general of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abubakar Sulaiman, has identified security as the foundation upon which sustainable development, economic progress and democratic governance are built.

Mr Sulaiman stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a public lecture organised by the institute.

The lecture was themed: “Federalism and the Crisis of Security in Nigeria.”

Mr Sulaiman warned that insecurity posed a grave threat to national development, democratic stability and citizens’ confidence in governance.

According to him, when security is compromised, the consequences extend beyond immediate threats to lives and property.

“It undermines institutional effectiveness, weakens democratic structures and erodes public trust in government,” he said.

The director-general noted that the persistence of insecurity across the country had intensified concerns and the need for informed national dialogue and institutional reforms.

He emphasised that addressing Nigeria’s security challenges required not only operational responses but also deeper reflection on the country’s federal structure and the role of governance in ensuring safety and stability.

The public lecture, he said, formed part of NILDS’ ongoing commitment to promoting evidence-based discourse and strengthening legislative and democratic institutions in support of national security.

The guest lecturer, James Jacob, identified weak institutional accountability as a major challenge to effective security governance in Nigeria.

Mr Jacob explained that sub-national governments often lacked the constitutional autonomy to respond decisively to security threats without federal approval.

He further highlighted Nigeria’s complex ethnic, religious, and regional dynamics, noting that these divisions often generated grievances that could escalate into violent conflicts if not properly managed.

Mr Jacob also criticised the over-centralisation of security architecture in the country, saying it often delayed operational responses, undermined local intelligence gathering and weakened collaboration between communities and security agencies.

The lecture was rounded off with robust discussions among policy makers, security experts and scholars, focusing on practical and actionable strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s overall security framework.

(NAN)