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From Emmanuel Adeyemi
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Absolute Security and Advance Protocol Ltd, Seyi Babaeko, has urged President Tinubu’s administration to make national security a tool for economic recovery, not just a military concern.
In a statement in Lokoja yesterday, the expert said the president must embrace technology, but not limited to drones, satellite surveillance and AI-based threat detection.
His words: “It also means legalising state policing so that communities are protected by people who understand their terrain. Importantly, young people living in violence-prone areas must be offered real alternatives, such as skills, jobs and hope.
“Oil still funds much of Nigeria’s budget, but the sector is bleeding daily. Billions are lost to pipeline vandalism, crude theft and inefficiencies. If we cannot secure our most strategic national asset, how can we fund development?
“We need to move from paper policies to action. Oil production and sales must be transparently tracked using digital tools, including blockchain. The Petroleum Industry Act must be fully implemented, not selectively applied. Local communities, especially in the Niger Delta, must be brought into the security framework. Joint military-private task forces should be formed to protect our infrastructure and build trust.
“While oil remains important, Nigeria cannot build its future on a finite resource. Diversification is not just a slogan, it must be a national movement,” he stressed
He stressed that $1 trillion economy cannot be built from Abuja alone. He also noted that governments must not be made bystanders. He argued that they would be better off as partners of growth, and that means practising true fiscal federalism and allowing states to unlock their own potential, whether in mining, agriculture or regional trade.
“States should be rewarded for innovation and performance, and encouraged to collaborate across regions. President Tinubu’s vision is bold but achievable. However, it will require clarity of purpose, political courage and a deep understanding that economic growth and national security are two sides of the same coin.
“I must also commend General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, for his steady leadership in these times. His strategic focus reminds us that securing Nigeria is not just about force, it is about foresight, unity and nation-building,” he added.
