Deepen Democracy, Reform Security Architecture, SCDDD Tells FG

Deepen Democracy, Reform Security Architecture, SCDDD Tells FG

By Peace Ofeoshi

The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen democratic institutions, uphold constitutional provisions, and undertake comprehensive security reforms to ensure lasting peace and national development.

Ambassador Sani S. Bala made the call on Thursday while briefing journalists on the state of democratic governance and national security in Nigeria.

He emphasized that democracy remains the most credible system of governance capable of guaranteeing peace, stability, and sustainable development, warning that any attempt to undermine democratic institutions or disregard the rule of law, human rights, and constitutional order could threaten national unity.

“Democracy must go beyond rhetoric. It requires strong institutions, adherence to constitutional provisions, and respect for the will of the people,” he stated.

Ambassador Bala stressed that political parties, as vehicles for leadership recruitment, must uphold internal democracy, discipline, and transparency. According to him, failure at the party level often results in weak leadership that lacks legitimacy and capacity to deliver good governance.

On the country’s security challenges, he described insecurity as pervasive and no longer confined to specific regions, urging a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture.

He called on the National Security Adviser to engage critical stakeholders in developing sustainable strategies to tackle the crisis, noting that security responses must go beyond military operations.

“There must be non-kinetic measures such as youth employment, poverty alleviation, job creation, industrialisation, and improved power supply. Addressing the socio-economic roots of insecurity is essential,” he said.

Ambassador Bala further warned that with Nigeria projected to become one of the most populous countries globally in the coming decades, urgent structural reforms are necessary to avert deeper socio-economic pressures.

On international relations, he described Nigeria’s collaboration with foreign partners, including joint military efforts, as consistent with global multilateral cooperation. However, he cautioned that such engagements must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and avoid interference in internal political processes.

He also underscored the importance of free, fair, and credible elections, urging the Federal Government to guarantee the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ambassador Bala concluded that strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring electoral integrity, and implementing comprehensive security reforms remain critical to achieving sustainable peace and development in Nigeria.