Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has recently highlighted a concerning issue in Nigeria. She pointed out that insecurity in the country is being manipulated for political purposes. According to Okonjo-Iweala, the persistent insecurity is not just a challenge but a tool used by some for political gain.

She emphasizes that without a stable and secure environment, Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development. The ongoing security issues are more than just safety concerns; they are affecting the country’s progress and growth. Okonjo-Iweala’s comments underscore the need for improved security measures to support the nation’s development efforts and create a stable environment for growth.

“We cannot have socio-economic development without security,” She made these remarks at the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held in Lagos State on Sunday, August 25.

“We certainly cannot have security without development. We all know that security has been weaponised in our country for political purposes by political actors, leading partly to the situation we have now.

“We have politicians who believe that the best way to make their opponents look bad is to instigate insecurity making it look like they can’t govern, regardless of whether this leads to loss of lives and property of innocent Nigerians.

“This has to stop.”“Nigerians have seen for years how organised crude oil theft on a massive scale seriously undermines the economic and financial health of the country,”“All Nigerians must agree that stealing of our national assets of any type is intolerable and must be stopped.”

The misuse of insecurity for political advantage only worsens the situation and stalls the country’s advancement. Addressing security concerns should be a top priority to enable Nigeria to move forward and achieve its development goals.