Rising Insecurity: Jega, Nine Eminent Nigerians ask FG to Appoint Special Envoy for Sahel

A group of prominent Nigerians, including former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Attahiru Jega, has called on the federal government to appoint a special envoy for the Sahel. They argue that Nigeria's escalating security issues, such as banditry and kidnapping, are intrinsically linked to the broader instability in the Sahel region.

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Government should as a matter of urgency recognise that 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, signed by 10 notable figures, emphasizes that the Nigerian crisis is not isolated and is directly fueled by the Sahel's turmoil. They urged the government to recognize this connection and to prioritize rebuilding trust between Nigeria, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This diplomatic engagement is seen as crucial for enhancing regional cooperation in intelligence sharing, border management, and coordinated responses against armed groups.

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Government should immediately appoint a high-level special envoy for the Sahel to begin the urgent task of rebuilding trust between Nigeria, the AES and ECOWAS while revamping regional mechanisms for peace and security.

The group warned that without robust regional coordination, Nigeria's security situation could deteriorate further due to porous borders, arms trafficking, and the spillover of extremist violence. They also highlighted the need for renewed investment in youth employment, education, social protection, and community-based peacebuilding to address the root causes of insecurity.

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Nigeria faces a grave threat to its foundational constitutional principle of the separation of powers. Checks and balances between the branches of government have been imperiled.

Furthermore, the eminent Nigerians voiced concern over the erosion of constitutional checks and balances among Nigeria's three arms of government. They stated that the separation of powers has been undermined, leading to a loss of independence and integrity in the legislative and judicial branches, which has fueled public distrust and exacerbated insecurity.

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The legislative branch has been placed under near total control of the executive branch. The judiciary appears to have lost both its independence and its integrity.