Nigeria has spent years battling terrorism, banditry, industrial-scale kidnapping, secession agitation, oil theft, and other violent crimes. Billions of naira have been committed, troops have been deployed across multiple theatres, many of them paying supreme sacrifice, and countless operations have been launched to restore peace. Yet, the persistence, and in some areas, escalation, of these threats raises a difficult question: why does the crisis appear so stubbornly entrenched?
The answer lies not only in the root causes of insecurity but also in the conditions that have allowed it to endure. Unless these underlying enablers are addressed decisively, the country risks continuing a fight that looks robust on the surface but produces limited long-term results.
At the centre of the problem is the absence of sustained political will. Security operations require more than declarations of commitment or periodic offensives; they require difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions that confront entrenched interests.
The Commander-in-Chief and the broader political leadership must be prepared to take far-reaching steps that will dismantle factors enabling and sustaining insecurity. Without this determination, strategies remain reactive rather than transformative. Political will is the engine that drives institutional coordination, accountability, and long-term reforms. Where it is weak, inconsistent or indecisive, even the most capable security forces struggle to achieve decisive outcomes. One had thought that this reality had been firmly established as far back as the pre-2015 period, when the administration in power then was often described as “clueless” due to its inability to make critical, far-reaching decisions. That experience should serve as a clear lesson.
If we are to achieve outcomes different from those of the past, a decisive shift is imperative. The present government must remain focused and resolute, undeterred by political pressures, religious sentiments, or any other primordial considerations. There must be no appeasement of entrenched interests or ideological influences.
Above all, accountability is non-negotiable. Anyone found complicit in the nation’s security challenges must be brought to justice. This is the irreducible minimum required to restore public confidence and ensure lasting progress.
Closely tied to this challenge is the emergence of a thriving criminal economy. In many parts of Nigeria, insecurity has evolved into a system that sustains livelihoods for those involved in illicit activities. From illegal mining-backed banditry to ransom-driven kidnapping operations; large-scale oil theft networks and illegal arms trafficking, these criminal enterprises have developed complex structures and financial incentives. As long as powerful actors, both within and outside affected communities, benefit from these networks, efforts to dismantle them will face resistance. In effect, insecurity has become profitable for some, and anything profitable tends to resist elimination.
Another troubling dimension is the proliferation of sleeper cells and informant networks that compromise security operations. Terror groups and bandit networks have embedded themselves within communities, creating a web of intelligence that often rivals that of state forces. When troop movements and operational plans are leaked, the element of surprise which is critical in counterinsurgency disappears. This undermines morale among security personnel and emboldens criminal groups who feel they remain one step ahead.
Geopolitics also plays a significant role in sustaining Nigeria’s security challenges. The country’s extensive and largely porous borders have long created vulnerabilities. Instability across parts of the Sahel has driven armed groups and displaced fighters toward Nigeria, complicating an already complex security landscape. Without stronger border management, intelligence-sharing with neighboring countries, and coordinated regional responses, Nigeria will continue to absorb the spillover effects of conflicts beyond its borders.
The information environment is another factor that cannot be ignored. In the digital age, narratives shape public perception and, sometimes, operational realities. Sensational reporting of violent incidents, while often driven by the need for attention-grabbing headlines and sometimes primordial interests, can inadvertently amplify the propaganda of terrorist and bandit groups. When attacks are repeatedly dramatized and sensationalized, the criminals achieve one of their key objectives: widespread fear and visibility. Responsible journalism does not mean concealing the truth, but it does require balance, context, and awareness of the strategic impact of how security issues are presented.
Yet, when all these factors are carefully examined, one truth becomes unavoidable: the absence of strong and consistent political will remains the biggest elephant in the room. A determined leadership posture could significantly weaken the other drivers of insecurity. It could disrupt the criminal economy through targeted financial crackdowns, strengthen border security through coordinated regional action, improve intelligence protection within the security forces, and establish clear communication frameworks with the media.
In essence, political will sets the tone for everything else. It determines whether policies remain on paper or translate into measurable action. It decides whether institutions are empowered or constrained. And it ultimately shapes whether the fight against insecurity becomes decisive or merely symbolic.
Nigeria is not lacking in capable security personnel, nor is it lacking in strategies or operational frameworks. What remains uncertain is whether the country is prepared to confront the uncomfortable realities that sustain the crisis. Until these enabling factors are addressed head-on, particularly the deficit of political resolve, the fight against insecurity risks remaining a façade: visible, loud, and ongoing, yet unable to deliver the lasting peace Nigerians urgently need.
Chidi Omeje is the publisher, Security Digest and Editor at Zagazola Media Network
