Nigerian Group Tasks Government, Leaders on Security Crisis

A coalition of Nigerian citizens has issued a stark warning about the nation's escalating insecurity and the erosion of democratic institutions. The group, identifying as "Concerned Nigerians," implored the government, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and the private sector to unite in addressing these critical issues and safeguarding civic rights.

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Our assessment of the state of the Nation reveals that Nigeria stands at a dangerous crossroads where rising insecurity, an alarming level of electoral manipulation by the government, and the weakening of democratic institutions are converging into a national crisis that threatens the country’s survival.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the signatories expressed deep concern over what they described as "increasing threats to the Nigerian Nation." They assessed the country as being at a "dangerous crossroads," where rising insecurity, alleged electoral manipulation, and the weakening of democratic institutions converge into a national crisis that jeopardizes Nigeria's survival. The group pointed to a threat to the separation of powers, a lack of judicial independence, and governmental "lack of accountability or citizens’ concern" as key factors fueling political exclusion, impunity, violent extremism, organized crime, and communal conflict.

To mitigate these pressing issues, the Concerned Nigerians proposed several recommendations. They stressed the importance of regional security cooperation, particularly intelligence sharing with Sahel states, to combat growing insecurity. The group also called for initiatives focused on youth employment and local conflict resolution mechanisms to tackle the root causes of radicalization. Furthermore, they advocated for the deployment of a Special Envoy for the Sahel to foster trust between Nigeria, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and ECOWAS.

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insecurity in the Sahel fuels the Nigerian crisis and that rapprochement between AES (Alliance of Sahel States) and ECOWAS is an important element in Nigeria’s national interest.

The statement also urged civil society organizations and the private sector to actively sensitize the public and demand accountability from the government. Traditional leaders and clergy were called upon to promote peaceful coexistence and inter-faith dialogue to curb criminality and civil disorder. Professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association and various unions, were encouraged to establish mechanisms for engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparent and credible elections in 2027. The judiciary was urged to maintain its independence, while the National Judicial Council (NJC) was tasked with holding judges accountable for their election-related rulings.

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promote peaceful co-existence, solidarity, and inter-faith dialogue to arrest the current slide to criminality and civil disorder.