Should Politicians Include Tackling Insecurity in Their Promises to Nigerians During the 2027 General Election Campaign?

This image is created with the help of Ai

By Yohanna Sunday Atiku

6th July 2026.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, political campaigns will once again be filled with promises on the economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation. However, one issue that deserves to be at the center of every campaign is insecurity.

In my opinion, Nigerians do not need another round of promises on tackling insecurity. What they are more likely to appreciate is results. The promises have already been made over the years; what has been lacking is consistent and practical action to fulfill them.

For many Nigerians, insecurity is no longer just a national concern—it is a daily reality. Communities continue to face challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal clashes, and other violent crimes. These problems have affected lives, livelihoods, education, agriculture, and business across different parts of the country.

While no government can promise to eliminate insecurity overnight, every candidate seeking public office should present a clear, realistic, and measurable plan for improving security. Nigerians deserve to know not only what politicians intend to do, but how they plan to achieve it.

Ultimately, security is one of the primary responsibilities of government. As voters prepare to elect new leaders in 2027, they should carefully examine each candidate's proposals and commitment to protecting lives and property. 

Campaign promises should go beyond slogans and focus on practical solutions that can restore public confidence and improve national security.

Identifying the Real People

A Case Study of the Statement by Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

By Yohanna Sunday Atiku

1 July,  2026.

Recently, Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, encouraged Nigerians, particularly young people, to consider small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn, and kulikuli.

Her statement quickly attracted criticism on social media. Many people mocked it, while content creators used it to produce humorous content. Some also argued that it reflected a lack of meaningful economic solutions.

This article is not about defending or condemning her statement. Rather, it seeks to identify the people the message was most likely intended for.

One of the basic principles of communication is audience identification. Every message has a target audience, criticizing it negatively without identifying its intended beneficiaries can lead to a wrong conclusion.

Her advice does not mean that someone already running a successful business should abandon it to start selling akara, roasted corn, or kulikuli.

Many of those criticizing the statement may not even be the people it was meant to reach. Some already have stable incomes and can comfortably provide for themselves and their families.

The message appears to be directed at ordinary Nigerians—the unemployed, low-income earners, and young people looking for a way to earn an honest living.

Starting with a small business does not mean you will remain there forever. 

Many successful entrepreneurs began with little capital. Growth comes through consistency, discipline, and proper management of profits.

Nigeria has a wide gap between the rich and the poor. While this challenge did not begin today, encouraging people with little or no capital to start small businesses can be a practical step toward self-reliance.

If you are financially comfortable, the statement may not apply to you. However, that does not change the fact that many Nigerians can still benefit from starting with small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn, or kulikuli, etc.

Rather than viewing the statement as an insult, it may be more helpful to see it as advice for people who simply need a starting point.

Not every message is meant for everyone. In this case, the "real people" are Nigerians with little or no startup capital who are looking for a legitimate opportunity to begin. Every successful business has a starting point, and no honest means of earning a living should be underestimated.

Protect Our Schools Like We Protect Our Oil Pipelines

  

This image above shows school children returned by security personnel after their abduction in Borno State Nigeria.

By Yohanna Sunday Atiku

30 June, 2026.

It is high time for schools in Nigeria to be recognized and protected as critical national infrastructure, just like oil pipelines and other strategic national assets.

The alarming increase in attacks on civilian schools, particularly those attended by children, is deeply disturbing. These attacks are not merely assaults on educational institutions; they are deliberate attacks on education, literacy, and the future of our nation.

The continued neglect of this growing security threat by relevant stakeholders is a clear indication that schools at every level must be accorded the same level of protection as other critical national infrastructure. Regardless of the ideology or motive behind these attacks, Nigeria can no longer afford to treat the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel as a secondary concern.

A mini Joint Task Force (JTF) security unit should be established in schools across the country to provide visible security, deter attacks, and ensure a rapid response to any emerging threats.

Considering Nigeria's large population, the recruitment of more security personnel, supported by adequate funding for salaries, welfare, training, and operational logistics, is both necessary and achievable. Furthermore, recovered proceeds from financial crimes should be invested significantly in improving the welfare and operational capacity of security personnel.

Community and family sensitization against terrorism, violent extremism, and other forms of insecurity should be intensified. In addition, security education should be made a compulsory part of the curriculum at all levels of education, with lessons tailored to the age and educational level of learners.

Until schools are officially recognized and protected as critical national infrastructure, perpetrators of these dastardly acts will continue to exploit them as soft targets due to inadequate security.

Governors across the federation should also see the establishment of state police as an opportunity to strengthen the protection of vulnerable critical infrastructure, especially schools, through community-based policing, intelligence gathering, and rapid response mechanisms.

Finally, the high level of security deployment, coordination, and operational readiness often witnessed during elections demonstrates that Nigeria has the capacity to protect its citizens and strategic assets when it chooses to do so. The same commitment, manpower, and resources should be deployed to safeguard schools, where harmless, peaceful, and conducive learning environments must be preserved for the benefit of future generations.

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