Tackle Security Crisis Head-On, Cardinal Onaiyekan Charges Tinubu
Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, warning that the nation cannot continue under the siege of criminals and insurgents.
The respected cleric voiced his concerns during the 2025 Communications Week Public Lecture organized by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, where late media mogul Raymond Dokpesi was posthumously honoured. Cardinal Onaiyekan did not mince words as he criticized the state of security across the country, urging the federal government to wake up to its responsibilities.
“You cannot have terrorists and criminals taking over the territory while calling yourself a free nation,” Onaiyekan stated, lamenting the normalization of violence and widespread insecurity.
He cited the heavy security presence around public officials as an alarming sign of deeper systemic failure.
“Even top government officials now move around with convoys of armed security, a clear indication that we are not safe,” he added.
The Cardinal’s remarks come amid persistent threats from terrorist groups, rampant kidnappings, and rising cases of banditry, especially in the North and Middle Belt regions. Many communities continue to suffer displacement, loss of lives, and destruction of property, with limited government intervention.
Responding to these concerns, the Tinubu administration has begun recalibrating the country’s security architecture.
Recent efforts include a renewed focus on intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, and addressing socio-economic drivers of insecurity.
Key government officials have stressed that Nigeria’s security strategy must extend beyond military force to include stabilizing rural economies, tackling food insecurity, and creating job opportunities.
President Tinubu’s team has also pledged to deepen collaboration among security agencies and foster community-based policing strategies.
“Security is not only about guns and boots. It is about creating an environment where people can live, farm, and trade in peace,” a senior presidential aide noted recently.
Nonetheless, critics argue that progress has been slow and that more decisive actions are needed to stem the tide of violence. Cardinal Onaiyekan’s intervention adds to a growing chorus of voices demanding a more urgent and people-centered approach to security.
As Nigerians continue to grapple with the realities of a volatile environment, the call from one of the country’s most revered religious leaders places further moral pressure on the government to act swiftly and decisively. Whether the Tinubu administration will rise to meet the challenge remains to be seen.
