Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has warned that Nigeria’s security situation has deteriorated to alarming levels, citing global terrorism impact rankings that placed the country as the 8th most affected in 2022, 6th in 2024, and 4th in 2026.
Obi made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja during his acceptance speech where he formally emerged as the party’s flag bearer ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said the worsening insecurity reflects a steep decline for a country that once earned global respect for its contributions to international peacekeeping and regional stability.
He recalled Nigeria’s past involvement in United Nations missions across Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Mali, Lebanon, Cambodia, Haiti, and Kuwait, where Nigerian troops were widely commended for professionalism and courage.
Obi, however, noted that the country’s current reality stands in sharp contrast, with citizens increasingly living under fear and uncertainty. He stressed that the fundamental duty of government is the protection of lives and property, warning that no nation can achieve economic progress amid widespread insecurity.
The former Anambra state governor called for a shift toward intelligence-driven security operations, stronger coordination among security agencies, and increased deployment of technology in tackling threats.
He also urged community-based security frameworks and greater focus on addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and exclusion, which he identified as key drivers of instability.
