It is no doubt that the state of security within the nation is of great concern to every patriotic Nigerian and there is no hope of the situation getting any better. Every Nigerian faces the adverse effect of kidnappings, bandits, Boko haram, and terrorist attacks as the index crime rate is on the high with armed robbers and burglars taking turns in their strategic activities.
Just a few days ago, one of the medium correctional facilities in the country, the Kuje Prison in Abuja was attacked, and many inmates were freed by the attackers. About 400 inmates escaped through the attack on the Kuje Prison. These are inmates convicted or facing trials/charges over various crimes which include murder, rape, theft, fraud and so on, some of the inmates were Boko haram members that have been arrested by the national security forces over the years but now they are all on the run across the nation which makes the insecurity of the nation tensed and fearful to citizens. It will be worthy of note to state there that between 2018 – 2022 (5 years) we have had about 15 prisons being jailbreak.
These attacks on our correctional facilities speak volumes about the strength of our internal defence systems/organs and their intelligence.
Taking a step further, this act is an extension of the integrity of the judicial system as well as it is now evident that our correctional facilities are not as secured as we thought hence when a criminal is convicted, there’s no guarantee he/she will serve the term.
This is a very strong pointer (red flag) to any foreign investor who wants to invest in a country such as Nigeria. Taking the issue of security of life and property to heart, an oath all the States Executives, the Governors and the President swore to but have not been able to live up to it. This is not a good motivation strategy to encourage foreign investors. Also, it’s worth noting as well that a few days ago, the presidential advance team was also attacked and the gun battle left the ACP of Kastina state dead.
I wonder about the quality of investors that will want to do real business here in Nigeria. How will an investor want to invest in a country where the security of life and properties is threatened? Beyond the failure of our infrastructures, such as power, good road, and an effective transportation system, we now have to deal with a high level of insecurity. One can easily conclude that the security of a nation is a key factor for foreign investors to invest which in turn builds a nation’s economy. The implication of the insecurity level has increased the rate at which great minds with high potential of reviving the nation leave the country in an attempt to seek greener pasture in more structured and secured countries.
We have to tackle the insecurity situation of the nation with all workable strategies while we also build more on our infrastructure for a nation like Nigeria to experience a boost in the nation’s economy else, the index of national growth and economy such as poverty rate, inflation rate, literacy index and others will continue to be on the increase.
Chinua Achebe wrote the book “There was a country” and indeed the ongoing situation has constantly agreed to this. Now is the time to fix our nation’s ship Nigeria from the economic downfall and experience that there is a country.
Motunrayo Awomolo
M.A.
