A retired US Army Captain, Bishop Johnson, has attributed Nigeria’s escalating insecurity to weak and dysfunctional local government institutions, urging the government to strengthen governance structures to curb criminal activities.
Johnson made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview with newsmen, stressing that effective governance is a cornerstone of national security.
“Many local governments are in a comatose state,” he said. “They fail to deliver essential services, leaving communities vulnerable to criminal networks that exploit local populations and perpetuate insecurity.”
Johnson emphasized that security agencies cannot tackle the nation’s challenges alone. “Ungoverned spaces should not exist in Nigeria. Governance itself is a critical part of any security strategy.
Authorities must provide functional leadership to neutralize small-scale criminal elements, allowing security forces to focus on those intent on creating chaos,” he explained.
Reflecting on historical precedents, Johnson noted that well-functioning local governments and traditional leadership institutions previously helped keep insecurity low.
“Back when these institutions were effective, insecurity was minimal. The weakening of local governments and traditional structures has brought us to the challenging security situation we face today,” he added.
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