As Nigeria intensifies efforts to grow into a trillion-dollar economy, experts are warning that the nation’s fragile security architecture could undermine the ambitious drive.
Retired Air Vice Marshal Akugbe Iyamu, in a reflection on the nexus between economic prosperity and national security, noted that no nation can achieve meaningful development without first guaranteeing the safety of its people and investors.
According to him, the push toward a trillion-dollar economy must be anchored on human capital, strong institutions, and above all, robust security across communities.
He stressed that insecurity in rural areas, displacement of children, closed schools and clinics, and the risks faced by farmers directly translate into economic losses.
Iyamu observed that history has shown the role of security in building prosperous economies—from Rome’s dominance of Mediterranean trade to Britain’s industrial revolution, and America’s technological and financial growth backed by strong security systems.
He warned that while Nigeria pursues reforms and investments, overlooking security remains a dangerous blind spot that explains why several economic policies fail to yield expected results.
Food inflation, he said, is a practical example of how insecurity in farmlands escalates economic hardship for millions.
For Nigeria to successfully transition into a trillion-dollar economy, he advised that the country must prioritize security as the non-negotiable foundation for governance, investment confidence, agricultural growth, and technological innovation.