The President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Israel Akanji, has called for the licensing of private security initiatives to assist the police and military in combating Nigeria's rising insecurity. He made the recommendation on Friday in Abuja during a press briefing ahead of the NBC's 113th Annual Session, set for April 18 to April 23 at the Baptist International Convention Centre (BICC), Kubwa. Rev. Akanji argued that community-based security, similar to private contributions in health and education, could strengthen national safety. He condemned the circulation of videos showing bandits and terrorists attacking victims, calling it an affront to national dignity. The cleric described insecurity as the nation's biggest challenge, citing the killing and publicizing of a Nigerian military general as a threat to national survival. He urged President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action against the worsening security situation. On the economy, Rev. Akanji acknowledged ongoing reforms but stressed the need for strict monitoring to ensure ordinary Nigerians benefit. He expressed concern over the "Japa" syndrome, warning that skilled youths risk their lives abroad while Nigeria loses vital human capital. A state of emergency in education is needed, he said, to address out-of-school children and update curricula for self-employment. He praised the Lagos-Calabar highway project but called for repairs to degraded roads and improvements in the railway system. The aviation ministry should investigate high airfare costs, which push Nigerians to travel via neighboring countries. On politics, he advised leaders to focus on governance, stating, "Whoever does his work well now needs not fear the coming 2027 elections because people's work will speak for them." He noted the Baptist Church's 176-year presence in Nigeria, with its national convention established in 1914, the same year as the country's amalgamation. The church has contributed to education through institutions like Baptist Academy, Lagos, and Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.
Rev. Israel Akanji urges licensing private security while simultaneously calling for a state of emergency in education, yet offers no plan to fund such a move without diverting resources from other critical sectors. His appeal for national development contrasts with his reliance on moral suasion rather than concrete mechanisms to hold leaders accountable. The same government he commends for economic reforms is failing to protect its citizens or retain its skilled youth. If faith leaders must repeatedly lecture the state on basic governance, the gap between policy and public safety has become a chasm.
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