By Seun Ibiyemi
A public affairs analyst, Nick Agule, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, warning that the current system is structurally incapable of addressing modern threats such as terrorism, banditry, and mass criminality.
In a detailed policy commentary released on March 20, 2026, Agule argued that despite sweeping actions by President Bola Tinubu including changes in service chiefs, multiple strategy meetings, and a record security budget of N5.41 trillion security outcomes across the country remain poor.
He noted that killings, kidnappings, and insurgent attacks continue unabated, with even military formations increasingly coming under successful assault.
According to him, this reflects not a lack of effort or funding, but a deeper structural flaw in Nigeria’s security framework.
Agule described the current architecture as a “1970s model” built around static checkpoints, limited personnel deployment, and slow communication systems, which he said are ill-suited to counter highly mobile and coordinated criminal networks operating across vast terrains.
“The system was designed for armed robbery, not for insurgency or large-scale banditry,” he stated, adding that thinly staffed checkpoints and poorly supported personnel leave security forces vulnerable and communities exposed.
As a solution, the analyst proposed the establishment of a nationwide emergency response system anchored on rapid response capabilities.
Read also:Ogun Police launch probe into petition over Ijebu-Ode rape case
He said such a system should include a single national emergency number, real-time integration of communication networks, centralized command-and-control centres, and mobile rapid-response units replacing static roadblocks.
Agule maintained that improved response times would significantly deter crime, arguing that when criminals are certain security forces can arrive within minutes, a substantial portion of criminal activity would be prevented without confrontation.
He further advocated equal enforcement of the law regardless of social or political status, as well as strict accountability for security commanders within their jurisdictions, to strengthen deterrence and institutional discipline.
The analyst also highlighted the economic benefits of such reforms, noting that a modern emergency response system could generate thousands of jobs across technology, logistics, and emergency services sectors.
Agule concluded that Nigeria’s persistent insecurity is a direct result of relying on outdated systems, stressing that meaningful progress would depend on adopting modern, technology-driven security solutions already in use globally.
He warned that without structural reforms, increased spending and leadership changes alone would not deliver the safety and stability Nigerians seek.
