Nigeria: Lawyers, Security Experts Back Tinubu’s Emergency Declaration

Lawyers and security experts have expressed their views over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of emergency on security.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency, unveiling sweeping measures that include the largest police and military recruitment drive in recent years.

The declaration came a day after LEADERSHIP advised the president, in an editorial published in its Tuesday, November 25 edition, to declare an emergency on insecurity, with the title, ‘Declare Emergency On Insecurity Now.’

The move also comes as Nigeria grapples with a resurgence of violent attacks across several states.

However, though lawyers and security experts welcomed the development, the security experts say there must be a clear direction on how the security emergency will be treated.

The director-general of Beacon Consulting and Security Services, Dr Kabir Adamu, stated that the President’s statement did not explicitly provide direction on what he hopes to achieve.

He said Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution addresses the state of emergency and the powers of the president to declare a state of emergency, as well as the role of the National Assembly in this regard.

He explained, “One of the things mentioned there is the conditions under which the president can declare a state of emergency.

“However, in this instance, the President said he was declaring a state of emergency in security, but there is no clarity with regard to what the president hopes to achieve. In other words, is the state of emergency going to grant security agencies the powers, and if that is what it is, will it grant the military the extra power to carry out specific responsibilities?”

He continued, “If the president had said, ‘I’m declaring war on banditry, war or terrorism,’ that is a clear statement. What it would mean is that the military and other security agencies will develop a blueprint for addressing that challenge.”

He, therefore, called on the president to provide clarity on what he intends to achieve and how Nigerians can support.

“In this instance, the president said he was declaring a state of emergency and mentioned about five things to do, but frankly, none of them is an emergency.”

According to him, the president, in his declaration, ordered the recruitment of police, authorised the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to deploy forest guards, creation of state police, and ranching.

“All these are things that will take time, so it’s not clear. I hope it’s not just a political statement. I hope he takes it seriously.”

Adamu stated further that the president called on Nigerians to rally round him and contribute to security, but “frankly, it’s not clear how Nigerians can contribute, so it leaves me a bit confused.

“We are in those conditions that demand a declaration of a state of emergency. People can’t go to their farms. Livelihoods have been destroyed, our schools are being attacked,” he lamented.

But speaking on the subject, the director of Media, Public Affairs and Communication, International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), Dr Mohammed Abdullahi Jabi, described the declaration as a good one.

“The declaration by the president on security is a welcome development. It is the right step in the right direction and a wake-up call that we should recruit more security operatives,” he said.

He said it was high time Nigeria increased its manpower in the security sector.

“We’ve lost a good number of our men in the line of duty. More training will be intensified, and that will sharpen their skills. The withdrawal of the Police from VIPs is also a good step. The Police are meant to serve the community and society, not individuals.

“Other agencies can provide VIP protection services; for example, the Civil Defence Armed Squad should be contacted to provide security to VIPs. This will lead to more results because the operatives will be more resolute and decisive.”

Experts Seek Collaboration, Innovation To Tackle Insecurity

The Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) has called for strengthened collaboration and innovative approaches to reinforce ongoing national efforts aimed at curbing insecurity across the country.

Chairman, Interim Caretaker Management Committee, retired Maj.-Gen. Elvis Njoku, made the call on Thursday in Abuja.

Njoku said the association was ready to partner with conventional security agencies through structured information sharing, community surveillance, and technology-driven solutions.

He said, “We cannot operate in silos anymore. Collaboration is the future of national security. Private security practitioners are positioned to complement the police, military and intelligence agencies, especially at the grassroots where many threats first emerge.”

The retired senior army officer said ALPSPN was advancing drone deployment, AI-assisted monitoring systems and digital neighbourhood-watch frameworks to enhance early detection of threats.

He stated that innovation is no longer optional, noting that they were building platforms that enable real-time reporting and faster escalation, which are necessary to close the intelligence gaps criminals exploit.

The secretary-general of ALPSPN, Dr Dauda Ageni, noted that improved collaboration would help unify the fragmented security architecture and strengthen community-level trust.

He said private security operatives were often the first points of contact in estates, business hubs and critical infrastructure, making their role indispensable in national security planning.

According to him, “Our operatives interact with citizens daily. We gather firsthand observations that can greatly assist security agencies if we have a seamless channel for coordination.”

Lawyers Back Interventions That Will Bring Normalcy

Senior lawyers in the country have stated that interventions that bring peace to the worsening security situation in the country are welcome.

The lawyers, in an interview with LEADERSHIP Friday last night, supported the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency on security in the country.

According to them, a state of emergency due to insecurity is a situation in which a government is empowered to implement policies that it would typically not be permitted to do.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abdul Balogun, condemned the killings and abductions across the country, adding that any measure that will bring back sanity to the system is welcome.

According to him, the government has allowed the insecurity to linger for too long.

“The government can no longer fold its arms while bandits and kidnappers take over the country. The truth now is that Nigerians are living in fear, and if a state of emergency on insecurity will solve the situation, honestly, it is welcome.”

A constitutional lawyer, Barrister Agboje Barnabas Uka, also welcomed the declaration of a state of emergency on insecurity.

He called on the federal government to act quickly in order for the situation not to deteriorate beyond what it already has.

“The nation can’t continue like this; any intervention that will bring the situation under control is welcome.

“I agree that the state of emergency declaration on security will go a long way to bring the security situation of the country to normalcy. Already, Nigerians are living in fear,” he said.

Abuja-based lawyer, Barrister Paul Amehi, said many innocent Nigerians have lost their lives, which is no longer acceptable in a country with a government and laws.

According to him, the situation should not be allowed to escalate beyond its current state.

He stated that the government should do everything within its power to protect Nigerians.

“Enough of the killings, we can’t continue to allow those to happen. Many Nigerians have lost their lives to kidnapping and banditry, and we have a government that is supposed to protect us. The state of emergency on insecurity is a good step in the right direction.” Prominent constitutional lawyer Dr Lilian Ojimma said the emergency declaration is long overdue.

According to her, in a state of emergency, the government is allowed to take action regardless of what the law says.

“In a state of emergency on a particular issue or development, the government is allowed to take any action it deems fit to bring the situation under control, regardless of what the law says.

“The emergency declaration on security is long overdue”, she said.

We Must Stand Behind President, Ashimolowo Tells Nigerians

Renowned cleric Matthew Ashimolowo of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is urging Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s government in its efforts to eradicate insecurity from the country.

Ashimolowo spoke on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, saying the Tinubu administration is one committed to making a difference in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.

He said, “Nigeria needs a turnaround. Let’s stand behind our president now that he has called for more policing, more soldiers.”

“Let’s raise the security level, make our people proud to be Nigerians, let’s tap into the brain of our nation and also recognise global Africa,” the KICC founder said on the breakfast show.

“Every African nation wants to be like Nigeria. They are so proud of us, Nigerians. We are the toughest, strongest, boldest and fearless. This is the nation we are, and I believe we have a leadership that wants to make things work; let’s support and be behind him (Tinubu).”

By Leadership.