Jimoh Ibrahim Urges Immediate Action: Unchecked Poverty Is Driving Insecurity Across Nigeria

Speaking at the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting in Uzbekistan, Ibrahim called for stronger collaboration among global parliamentarians to boost national defense budgets as part of efforts to combat insecurity worldwide. A statement from his media team in Abuja quoted him saying, “The central question for governments and security agencies should be: security for whom, when, and how? Tackling issues of power and insecurity alongside their interconnected systems is crucial for the security of the global framework. The government’s failure to address poverty effectively will only intensify insecurity.”

Ibrahim highlighted that the government’s approach to security has been inconsistent, fluctuating between fear and courage, and warned that this inconsistency signals a systemic failure. He stated, “Life is becoming more difficult in the face of this struggle, yet we continue to rely on a defense structure. It’s only a matter of time before fear or courage takes control. I’ve witnessed fear within government leadership, leading to crises and escalating insecurity.”

Responding to international media in Uzbekistan, the senator urged parliaments to take a more proactive and constructive approach to defense funding rather than simply exercising oversight. He stressed the link between poverty reduction and government effectiveness, noting that insecurity often arises from governance failures. Ibrahim cautioned that when parliaments focus solely on scrutinizing security expenditures, they may inadvertently contribute to insecurity.

The former Ondo governorship aspirant emphasized the need to improve system and process efficiency in addressing fraud in security spending, a critical issue for legislative bodies globally.