As preparations gear up for the proposed National Security Summit, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) has called for bold, knowledge-driven solutions to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, warning against complacency and empty rhetoric.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the senator emphasized that the summit must go beyond dialogue and result in actionable, legally binding steps. “We’ve had talk shops before,” he acknowledged. “This time, the focus is on action—real, legal, structured action.”
Addressing skepticism over the relevance of another summit, Senator Ibrahim urged Nigerians not to fall into the trap of cynicism. He cited the underutilized 2014 National Conference report as an example of wasted potential, but insisted that difficulty in implementation should not be a reason for inaction.
“Just because implementation is difficult doesn’t mean we remain silent. That’s dangerous,” he cautioned.
He also recounted a recent exchange with a World Bank official during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, in which he defended Nigeria’s economic reform efforts. “For the first time, the IMF admitted fault. That’s the power of speaking up,” he said.
Ibrahim highlighted the urgent need to modernize Nigeria’s security infrastructure using technology and innovation. “Our universities and banks don’t even have emergency response centers,” he lamented. “That’s why I developed an app that detects gun presence in a 1,000-kilometre radius. If I can do that, why can’t we scale it?”
He emphasized the legislature’s oversight role and said action must not be delayed by the often-cited lack of political will. “We can’t afford to wait. Our duty is to act.”
In a passionate appeal to the media, he called on journalists to rediscover their watchdog role: “Don’t wait to learn security by living with insecurity. Learn it now. Act now. Prevent now.”
Senator Ibrahim concluded that the summit must be driven by “clarity, purpose, and urgency,” if it is to meet the pressing needs of the Nigerian people.