Editorial
Addressing Security Challenges In Nigeria
One major challenge which the new Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo must endeavour to address, is the high level of insecurity in the country as expressed daily in the astonishingly high rates of assassination, armed robbery and kidnappings across the land.
The obvious lapses in nation’s security system was recently exposed by the Boko Haram uprising in some states of the North like Borno, Yobe and Kano, which the Federal Government eventually crushed, using a combined Task Force of armed combants but at the cost of over 800 lives.
The situation is not so much different in other parts of the country including the South West, South East and the Niger Delta areas where, security concerns continue to evoke public discourse.
This development, no doubt, informed the recent security summit organised by the South East states during which time, former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, was asked to unveil a new security masterplan for the region. That summit, we believe was prompted by the gory security situation in the area, especially the level of impudence with which armed robbers in Awka, Anambra State, daily dare security operatives.
Only recently, media reports recounted how armed robbers invaded that State in commando type armored carriers, in a convoy complete with the most lethal of arms including, automatic riffles, grenade launchers and other combat weapons, in a brazen affront against the antiquated weapons of the police there.
Emboldened by that superior fire power, robbers have become more daring with litle or no opposition by the police,in Anambra, who apparently lack equipment and personnel.
It was this situation, that gave rise to the deployment of about 600 mobile policemen to the state a fortnight ago, to help check the security danger there.
The Tide, however, believes that time has come for the authorities to consider massive expansion of the police force in terms of sheer numbers to enable it meet the challenge of criminals.
This call has become imperative in view of the fact that in a country of about 150 million people, the present police population of 377,000 is grossly inadequate to guarantee globally acceptable internal security in the country. It is even moreso, when about 100,000 of these men are said to be on private duties to politicians and their cronies.
Given this scenario, the call for an increase in the ranks of the force, improved intelligence and better arms and ammunition become more imperative since we are blessed with a viable crop of unemployed graduates in the country, most of who could fit into the police.
Besides, the proposed expansion would be in line with our dream of having about 2.8 million policemen to secure Nigeria in harmony with the United Nations, UN, recommendation of one policeman to 300 citizens.
This is why we think that any drive to increase the number of policemen in the country should be embarked upon with the urgency it deserves.
This position was also highlighted yesterday at a security meeting in Abuja, by the Minister of Police Affairs who reiterated the need for community policing with the warning that the sector can no longer be overlooked if we must rid society of dangerous criminals who have made life unsafe for all.
The propriety of this proposal cannot be overemphasised as many business concerns that could have helped in reducing the high level of unemployment have relocated to other West African countries, where, the security situation seems better.
Now, therefore, is the time to salvage Nigerians from the hands of men of the underworld who have refused to show respect for the sanctity of lives in their dastardly operations.
Editorial
Making Rivers’ Seaports Work

When Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, received the Board and Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), led by its Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, his message was unmistakable: Rivers’ seaports remain underutilised, and Nigeria is poorer for it. The governor’s lament was a sad reminder of how neglect and centralisation continue to choke the nation’s economic arteries.
The governor, in his remarks at Government House, Port Harcourt, expressed concern that the twin seaports — the NPA in Port Harcourt and the Onne Seaport — have not been operating at their full potential. He underscored that seaports are vital engines of national development, pointing out that no prosperous nation thrives without efficient ports and airports. His position aligns with global realities that maritime trade remains the backbone of industrial expansion and international commerce.
Indeed, the case of Rivers State is peculiar. It hosts two major ports strategically located along the Bonny River axis, yet cargo throughput has remained dismally low compared to Lagos. According to NPA’s 2023 statistics, Lagos ports (Apapa and Tin Can Island) handled over 75 per cent of Nigeria’s container traffic, while Onne managed less than 10 per cent. Such a lopsided distribution is neither efficient nor sustainable.
Governor Fubara rightly observed that the full capacity operation of Onne Port would be transformative. The area’s vast land mass and industrial potential make it ideal for ancillary businesses — warehousing, logistics, ship repair, and manufacturing. A revitalised Onne would attract investors, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth, not only in Rivers State but across the Niger Delta.
The multiplier effect cannot be overstated. The port’s expansion would boost clearing and forwarding services, strengthen local transport networks, and revitalise the moribund manufacturing sector. It would also expand opportunities for youth employment — a pressing concern in a state where unemployment reportedly hovers around 32 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Yet, the challenge lies not in capacity but in policy. For years, Nigeria’s maritime economy has been suffocated by excessive centralisation. Successive governments have prioritised Lagos at the expense of other viable ports, creating a traffic nightmare and logistical bottlenecks that cost importers and exporters billions annually. The governor’s call, therefore, is a plea for fairness and pragmatism.
Making Lagos the exclusive maritime gateway is counter productive. Congestion at Tin Can Island and Apapa has become legendary — ships often wait weeks to berth, while truck queues stretch for kilometres. The result is avoidable demurrage, product delays, and business frustration. A more decentralised port system would spread economic opportunities and reduce the burden on Lagos’ overstretched infrastructure.
Importers continue to face severe difficulties clearing goods in Lagos, with bureaucratic delays and poor road networks compounding their woes. The World Bank’s Doing Business Report estimates that Nigerian ports experience average clearance times of 20 days — compared to just 5 days in neighbouring Ghana. Such inefficiency undermines competitiveness and discourages foreign investment.
Worse still, goods transported from Lagos to other regions are often lost to accidents or criminal attacks along the nation’s perilous highways. Reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps indicate that over 5,000 road crashes involving heavy-duty trucks occurred in 2023, many en route from Lagos. By contrast, activating seaports in Rivers, Warri, and Calabar would shorten cargo routes and save lives.
The economic rationale is clear: making all seaports operational will create jobs, enhance trade efficiency, and boost national revenue. It will also help diversify economic activity away from the overburdened South West, spreading prosperity more evenly across the federation.
Decentralisation is both an economic strategy and an act of national renewal. When Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports operate optimally, hinterland states benefit through increased trade and infrastructure development. The federal purse, too, gains through taxes, duties, and improved productivity.
Tin Can Island, already bursting at the seams, exemplifies the perils of over-centralisation. Ships face berthing delays, containers stack up, and port users lose valuable hours navigating chaos. The result is higher operational costs and lower competitiveness. Allowing states like Rivers to fully harness their maritime assets would reverse this trend.
Compelling all importers to use Lagos ports is an anachronistic policy that stifles innovation and local enterprise. Nigeria cannot achieve its industrial ambitions by chaining its logistics system to one congested city. The path to prosperity lies in empowering every state to develop and utilise its natural advantages — and for Rivers, that means functional seaports.
Fubara’s call should not go unheeded. The Federal Government must embrace decentralisation as a strategic necessity for national growth. Making Rivers’ seaports work is not just about reviving dormant infrastructure; it is about unlocking the full maritime potential of a nation yearning for balance, productivity, and shared prosperity.
Editorial
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