By Muhammad Mamman
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, lamenting that terrorism continues to spread across the country despite the trillions of naira spent on security over the years.
Mr Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on Sunday, where he questioned the effectiveness of the nation’s security expenditure in light of the persistent and, in some cases, escalating attacks by terrorists and other criminal groups.
According to him, the continued loss of lives, displacement of communities and destruction of livelihoods underscore a troubling disconnect between government spending and tangible security outcomes. He argued that Nigerians deserve accountability for how public funds allocated to defence and security are utilised.
“The painful reality is that despite trillions spent on security, terrorism and violent crimes have continued to expand their reach,” Mr Obi said, adding that insecurity has remained a major obstacle to economic growth, food security and national stability.
He stressed that no meaningful development could take place in an environment where citizens live in constant fear, urging the government to reassess its security architecture and prioritise intelligence-driven operations, transparency and better welfare for security personnel.
Mr Obi also called for a broader, more holistic approach to tackling insecurity, including addressing unemployment, poverty and weak governance, which he described as underlying drivers of violence and radicalisation.
His comments come amid growing public frustration over recurring attacks in several parts of the country and renewed calls for more effective strategies to stem the tide of terrorism and other forms of violent crime.
