External Interventions Cannot Cure Nigeria’s Security Problem – Unilesa VC
The Vice Chancellor of University of Ilesa, Professor Taiwo Asaolu, has said the insecurity facing the country is deeply rooted in social injustice, unemployment, poverty, weak institutions, corruption, and erosion of public trust.
This was as he said external intervention cannot be a cure to Nigeria’s internal security problem, suggesting that the solution to the issue can only come from within.
Asaolu stated this on Tuesday while delivering his speech at the maiden edition of the annual lecture of the Faculty of Arts of the university.
The VC said the lecture topic, “The Nigerian Security Quagmire and
External Intervention: Implications, Lessons and the Way Forward,” harped on the need to rebuild trust between citizens and the State.
He also said there is a need to strengthen institutions and invest in education that fosters critical thinking, civic responsibility, and
national unity.
“The security quagmire we face is not only a military problem. It is deeply rooted in social injustice, unemployment, and poverty,
weak institutions, corruption, and erosion of public trust.
“External intervention in Nigeria’s security affairs has come from multiple fronts. Multilateral institutions such as the United Nations agencies have supported humanitarian responses,
particularly in internally displaced persons camps.
“While such interventions have contributed to certain tactical successes, they also raise profound questions. What are the
long-term implications of relying on external actors for internal security? How do we balance sovereignty with collaboration?
“At what point does assistance become dependency? These are
not merely strategic questions; they are philosophical, political,
and ethical questions—precisely the kind that the Faculty of Arts is uniquely positioned to interrogate.
“External intervention, therefore, can only address the symptoms; it cannot cure the disease. The enduring solution must come from within. We must rebuild trust between citizens and the State. We must strengthen institutions—our judiciary, our police, our intelligence systems. We must invest in education that fosters critical thinking, civic responsibility, and national unity,” the VC noted.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
