Abuja: The President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Israel Akanji, has proposed licensing private security initiatives to support the police and military in tackling insecurity across Nigeria.
In addressing insecurity, the cleric proposed a solution during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday ahead of the Convention’s 113th Annual Session (scheduled for April 18 to April 23).
The 2026 session will gather thousands of delegates at the Baptist International Convention Centre (BICC), Kubwa, Abuja, for spiritual revival and national prayers.
Akanji argued that community-based efforts could strengthen national response to the nation’s worsening insecurity.
“Just as private entities have successfully complemented the government in health and education, licensed community-based security could offer a more robust defence against internal threats,” he said
The cleric expressed worry over the boldness of bandits and terrorists. He said they now share viral videos of their victims, which he called an affront to the nation’s dignity.
He maintained that without adequate security, developmental strides in critical sectors like education and agriculture would be frustrated.
”The biggest of the nation’s challenges is insecurity.
“It is an affront on the entire nation when a Nigerian military General is captured, killed and made viral on social media,” he said.
The cleric called on President Bola Tinubu to decisively confront the nation’s security challenges, describing the current situation as an “unbearable threat to national survival”.
Shifting his focus to economic matters, the NBC leader commended the ongoing reforms but emphasised the need for strict monitoring across all levels of government to ensure Nigerians feel the positive impact.
He also expressed concerns about the mass migration of skilled youths, known as the “Japa” syndrome. He noted that many risk dangerous routes to develop other nations, while Nigeria remains underdeveloped.
”Government actions must be seen to drastically reduce these trends by creating opportunities at home,” he added.
Akanji urged a state of emergency in education to address the rising number of out-of-school children and modernise curricula to promote self-employment.
While praising the Lagos-Calabar highway project, he urged the government to repair dilapidated roads and improve the railway system to enhance road durability and passenger safety.
The cleric also tasked the Aviation Ministry to investigate the high cost of air travel, which he said has forced many Nigerians to travel through neighbouring countries.
On politics, the NBC President advised leaders to focus on governance over the 2027 election. He urged a spirit of sportsmanship among politicians.
”Whoever does his work well now needs not fear the coming 2027 elections because people’s work will speak for them,” Akanji said.
Reflecting on history, he noted that the Baptist work in Nigeria, now 176 years old, aligns with the nation’s timeline.
According to him, the Baptist Church formed its national convention in 1914, the same year as Nigeria’s amalgamation.
He highlighted the Church’s legacy in human capital development through institutions such as the Baptist Academy in Lagos and the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomoso.