LAGOS — Former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has said Nigeria cannot build a strong economy without security, just as lasting security cannot be achieved without a strong economy.
Daniel made the submission on Thursday while delivering his preliminary remarks as Special Guest of Honour at the 7th Annual Freedom Online Lecture held at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja.
The event, organised by Freedom Online, was themed “2027 Elections: Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future.”
Daniel, who spoke shortly before the main lecture delivered by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the relationship between security and economic development was inseparable.
“Let me begin with one central point: Nigeria cannot have a strong economy without security, and it cannot have lasting security without a strong economy,” he said.
While acknowledging recent improvements in the Nigerian economy, including the reported 4.43 per cent growth in real GDP in the second quarter of 2026, the former governor said economic progress should ultimately be measured by its impact on the daily lives of citizens.
He asked whether young Nigerians could find decent employment, farmers could safely access their farms, manufacturers could produce competitively and small businesses could survive the high costs of power, transportation and finance.
He also questioned whether investors could commit their resources to Nigeria with confidence.
“These questions bring us directly to security,” Daniel said.
Security is economic infrastructure
The senator argued that security should not be viewed exclusively as the responsibility of the military, police and other security agencies.
According to him, security is itself a critical component of economic infrastructure.
“When farmers are afraid to cultivate their land, food production suffers. When roads are unsafe, the cost of transporting goods rises. When businesses spend excessively on protection, their competitiveness declines. When communities live in fear, investment is discouraged,” he said.
Daniel described the reported abduction of more than 7,800 people between July 2025 and June 2026 as not merely a security statistic but “an economic warning.”
He said the scale of insecurity could undermine efforts to expand production, attract investment and improve living standards.
‘Nigeria must not be defined by its challenges’
Despite the challenges confronting the country, Daniel said Nigeria possessed significant resources and capabilities that could support sustainable economic development.
He identified the country’s young population, entrepreneurial culture, growing technology sector, financial institutions and creative economy as some of its major assets.
“Our challenge is to create the conditions in which Nigerian ability can flourish at scale,” he said.
He identified security, infrastructure and opportunity as essential conditions for unlocking the country’s potential.
Nigeria must move from oil wealth to human wealth
Daniel also called for greater diversification of the Nigerian economy, arguing that the country’s future could not depend on crude oil alone.
He noted that the non-oil sector accounted for approximately 95.8 per cent of real GDP in the second quarter of 2026.
He identified agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, financial services, tourism, entertainment and the digital economy as sectors capable of driving Nigeria’s next phase of development.
“Our task is to convert these sectors into productive jobs, higher incomes and better living standards,” he said.
Daniel placed particular emphasis on young Nigerians, saying they needed practical opportunities rather than political rhetoric.
“They need more than speeches. They need skills, employment, access to capital, technology and a society in which enterprise and hard work can lead to a better life,” he said.
He warned that failure to provide such opportunities could increase frustration among young people and ultimately threaten social stability.
“If we give our young people opportunity, they will build Nigeria. If we deny them opportunity, frustration will grow and social stability will suffer,” he said.
Lagos, Ogun offer development lessons
The senator cited Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State as examples of what could be achieved when population, enterprise, infrastructure and opportunity were brought together.
While acknowledging that the two states faced their own challenges, Daniel said their experiences demonstrated the productivity of Nigerians when provided with an enabling environment.
He challenged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to replicate such conditions across the country.
“The wider national challenge is to extend that opportunity across the country, so that a young entrepreneur in Aba, Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, or Maiduguri can build with the same confidence as one in Lagos,” he said.
‘Nigeria’s capacity is greater than its problems’
Daniel concluded by expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying the country’s enormous human and material resources could overcome its current difficulties if properly harnessed.
“The Nigeria we want tomorrow will be determined by the decisions we make today,” he said.
He argued that securing farms would strengthen food security, securing roads would strengthen commerce, and securing communities would encourage investment.
Similarly, he said creating jobs and investing in young Nigerians would strengthen social stability and the country’s future.
“I remain optimistic about Nigeria—not because our problems are small, but because our capacity is greater than our problems,” Daniel said.
“We have the people, the resources, the market and the entrepreneurial spirit. What we need is the security, leadership, infrastructure and discipline to convert potential into prosperity.”
He thereafter handed over to Sanwo-Olu to deliver the main lecture on the theme of the event.
Daniel made the submission on Thursday while delivering his preliminary remarks as Special Guest of Honour at the 7th Annual Freedom Online Lecture held at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja.
The event, organised by Freedom Online, was themed “2027 Elections: Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future.”
Daniel, who spoke shortly before the main lecture delivered by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the relationship between security and economic development was inseparable.
“Let me begin with one central point: Nigeria cannot have a strong economy without security, and it cannot have lasting security without a strong economy,” he said.
While acknowledging recent improvements in the Nigerian economy, including the reported 4.43 per cent growth in real GDP in the second quarter of 2026, the former governor said economic progress should ultimately be measured by its impact on the daily lives of citizens.
He asked whether young Nigerians could find decent employment, farmers could safely access their farms, manufacturers could produce competitively and small businesses could survive the high costs of power, transportation and finance.
He also questioned whether investors could commit their resources to Nigeria with confidence.
“These questions bring us directly to security,” Daniel said.
Security is economic infrastructure
The senator argued that security should not be viewed exclusively as the responsibility of the military, police and other security agencies.
According to him, security is itself a critical component of economic infrastructure.
“When farmers are afraid to cultivate their land, food production suffers. When roads are unsafe, the cost of transporting goods rises. When businesses spend excessively on protection, their competitiveness declines. When communities live in fear, investment is discouraged,” he said.
Daniel described the reported abduction of more than 7,800 people between July 2025 and June 2026 as not merely a security statistic but “an economic warning.”
He said the scale of insecurity could undermine efforts to expand production, attract investment and improve living standards.
‘Nigeria must not be defined by its challenges’
Despite the challenges confronting the country, Daniel said Nigeria possessed significant resources and capabilities that could support sustainable economic development.
He identified the country’s young population, entrepreneurial culture, growing technology sector, financial institutions and creative economy as some of its major assets.
“Our challenge is to create the conditions in which Nigerian ability can flourish at scale,” he said.
He identified security, infrastructure and opportunity as essential conditions for unlocking the country’s potential.
Nigeria must move from oil wealth to human wealth
Daniel also called for greater diversification of the Nigerian economy, arguing that the country’s future could not depend on crude oil alone.
He noted that the non-oil sector accounted for approximately 95.8 per cent of real GDP in the second quarter of 2026.
He identified agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, financial services, tourism, entertainment and the digital economy as sectors capable of driving Nigeria’s next phase of development.
“Our task is to convert these sectors into productive jobs, higher incomes and better living standards,” he said.
Daniel placed particular emphasis on young Nigerians, saying they needed practical opportunities rather than political rhetoric.
“They need more than speeches. They need skills, employment, access to capital, technology and a society in which enterprise and hard work can lead to a better life,” he said.
He warned that failure to provide such opportunities could increase frustration among young people and ultimately threaten social stability.
“If we give our young people opportunity, they will build Nigeria. If we deny them opportunity, frustration will grow and social stability will suffer,” he said.
Lagos, Ogun offer development lessons
The senator cited Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State as examples of what could be achieved when population, enterprise, infrastructure and opportunity were brought together.
While acknowledging that the two states faced their own challenges, Daniel said their experiences demonstrated the productivity of Nigerians when provided with an enabling environment.
He challenged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to replicate such conditions across the country.
“The wider national challenge is to extend that opportunity across the country, so that a young entrepreneur in Aba, Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt, or Maiduguri can build with the same confidence as one in Lagos,” he said.
‘Nigeria’s capacity is greater than its problems’
Daniel concluded by expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying the country’s enormous human and material resources could overcome its current difficulties if properly harnessed.
“The Nigeria we want tomorrow will be determined by the decisions we make today,” he said.
He argued that securing farms would strengthen food security, securing roads would strengthen commerce, and securing communities would encourage investment.
Similarly, he said creating jobs and investing in young Nigerians would strengthen social stability and the country’s future.
“I remain optimistic about Nigeria—not because our problems are small, but because our capacity is greater than our problems,” Daniel said.
“We have the people, the resources, the market and the entrepreneurial spirit. What we need is the security, leadership, infrastructure and discipline to convert potential into prosperity.”
He thereafter handed over to Sanwo-Olu to deliver the main lecture on the theme of the event.
