Stakeholders at a symposium in Ibadan have renewed calls for urgent restructuring of Nigeria’s governance architecture, describing it as a necessary step to address rising insecurity and deepening strains on the country’s democratic system.
The call was made at a symposium organised by the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA), held at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, with the theme “Nigeria’s Current Challenges and the Way Out.”
The forum brought together scholars, legal practitioners, political actors and public affairs analysts to interrogate the nexus between insecurity, governance deficits and Nigeria’s democratic future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, identified security as the most pressing challenge facing the country, insisting that only far-reaching structural reforms can provide sustainable solutions.
Describing Nigeria as “a nation of paradox,” Farounbi said the country’s vast human and natural endowments have failed to translate into meaningful development due to weak institutions, structural imbalances and poor policy implementation.
He maintained that Nigeria’s problems are not rooted in a lack of ideas, but in the absence of discipline, accountability and functional structures to drive implementation.
“ Nigeria’s problem is not absence of solutions, but absence of structure and responsibility to implement those solutions,” he said.
Farounbi warned that persistent insecurity reflects deeper systemic failures, noting that no nation can achieve progress with fragile institutions and a weak security architecture. He urged both leaders and citizens to embrace reforms that would strengthen governance, promote accountability and rebuild public trust.
Also speaking, Convener of The Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, examined Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, noting that while the Fourth Republic has sustained uninterrupted elections since 1999, its substance remains weak.
Presenting a paper titled “Nigeria’s Fourth Republic at a Crossroads: Challenges and Prospects Ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Showunmi argued that the country’s democracy is caught between electoral continuity and true democratic consolidation.
According to him, entrenched elite dominance, weak internal party democracy, economic hardship and declining voter confidence continue to undermine democratic legitimacy.
He described the approach to the 2027 elections as a critical turning point, warning that failure to reform key institutions could further erode public trust in governance.
Showunmi called for reforms in electoral administration, improved internal party processes and greater responsiveness of political leaders to citizens’ needs.
In his presentation, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola, underscored the impact of insecurity on Nigeria’s socio-economic development, describing it as a major obstacle to national progress.
Akintola said insecurity not only threatens lives and property but also discourages investment, disrupts agriculture, weakens education and strains public resources.
He warned that no meaningful development can occur in an environment where citizens live in fear and institutions are unable to guarantee safety.
According to him, Nigeria’s growth prospects remain constrained by insecurity, poverty and weak institutions, calling for urgent policy interventions to strengthen security frameworks and justice delivery systems.
He also advocated increased investment in youth empowerment and job creation as long-term solutions to the root causes of insecurity.
In his remarks, NAPAA Chairman, Prince Seun Adelore, emphasised that restructuring would strengthen Nigeria’s economy, healthcare system and security framework, arguing that decentralisation would enable regions to harness their resources more effectively.
Also speaking, NAPAA Secretary, Comrade Jaye Ajayi highlighted the role of civic engagement in driving national development, describing NAPAA as a platform for informed discourse and policy advocacy.
He noted that membership of the association is built on analytical capacity and the ability to provide practical solutions to societal issues.
Providing further insight, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo said restructuring entails creating systems that allow regions to develop based on their comparative advantages.
He projected that the Western region could grow its economy significantly within a decade if empowered through structural reforms, citing abundant natural resources and favourable conditions.
Oladejo also advocated the establishment of regional security outfits alongside state policing to improve safety across the country, adding that stakeholders are already working on proposals to be presented to government.
However, Comrade Moshood Erubami expressed concern over the repeated calls for restructuring without tangible outcomes, attributing the delay to lack of collective political will among Nigerians.
Also lending his voice, the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Akeem Abas, supported the call for restructuring as a necessary step to address the country’s mounting challenges.
