By Samuel Akpan
Ahead of the pivotal 2027 general elections, a new report suggests Nigeria’s stability hinges on its ability to navigate a multi-front crisis involving economic hardship, social polarization, and the rapid rise of AI-driven disinformation.
The warning was delivered on Tuesday in Abuja by retired Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).
Persecondnews correspondent at the presentation of the report reports that Olukolade revealed the grim findings from the CCC’s Crisis Communication Hub—a specialized monitoring arm tasked with tracking public sentiment, misinformation, and evolving security threats across the federation.
“We have observed a marked deterioration in Nigeria’s security landscape, with criminal groups adapting their tactics despite the gallant efforts of our security forces,” said the former Director of Defence Information, who served during the peak of counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast Nigeria before retiring in 2015.
The report detailed persistent terrorist attacks, mass kidnappings, violent banditry, farmer-herder clashes and the resurgence of extremist elements, especially in June.
While acknowledging commendable rescues of abducted persons and disruption of terrorist activities by the Armed Forces and other agencies, the CCC stressed that these successes have not stopped criminal networks from evolving, underscoring the urgent need for more robust, coordinated and intelligence-driven responses across all security formations.
Persecondnews also reports that a major concern flagged in the assessment is the unprecedented proliferation of fake news, manipulated multimedia content and AI-generated disinformation.
They are undermining public confidence in state institutions, aggravating social tensions and complicating ongoing security operations.
“As political activities for the 2027 general elections gradually gather momentum, the deliberate spread of false information and hate speech has become a potent threat to national peace and democratic stability,” Olukolade warned.
The report also linked worsening economic conditions, rising food insecurity and persistent inflation to heightened public frustration and social vulnerabilities.
It expressed concern over reports of restrictions on press freedom and the misuse of extant laws against journalists, developments it said carry serious implications for democratic governance and public accountability.
Particularly disturbing, the CCC noted, is the increasing weaponisation of ethnic and religious identities by some political actors for partisan purposes.
“Nigeria’s hard-earned gains in nation-building, national integration and peaceful coexistence are being steadily eroded by divisive rhetoric and identity politics.
“This dangerous trajectory, if not urgently addressed, could further inflame tensions and undermine national unity,” Olukolade cautioned.
To tackle the challenges, the Centre recommended that the Federal Government and security agencies prioritise specialised training, capacity building and improved rescue operation strategies, particularly for kidnapping incidents and other emergencies, to enhance response times, boost operational effectiveness and ultimately save lives.
It further urged the media, public commentators and social media users to refrain from sensationalising kidnapping incidents and ongoing rescue operations.
Responsible reporting and the dissemination of verified information, it said, are essential to protecting the integrity of security operations, preventing unnecessary public panic and denying criminal elements the publicity they often seek.
On the political front, the CCC called on critical stakeholders to halt the dangerous trend of politicians exploiting ethnic and religious differences for advantage.
Political leaders, it said, must demonstrate greater responsibility by promoting national cohesion rather than exploiting existing fault lines for partisan interests.
The Centre reiterated its support for the establishment of state police as part of broader security sector reforms, noting growing public consensus that it offers a more responsive approach to Nigeria’s security challenges.
It, however, cautioned that the constitutional, legal and institutional framework for implementation should not be subjected to unnecessary delays, while adequate safeguards must be instituted to guarantee professionalism, accountability and protection against abuse.
The CCC appealed to government institutions, security agencies, political parties, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organisations, the media and citizens to work collectively towards combating misinformation, promoting responsible public communication and strengthening national unity above sectional or political interests.
“Addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges requires a whole-of-society approach anchored on professionalism, strategic communication, intelligence-led operations, responsible leadership and active citizen participation,” Olukolade emphasised.
The Centre pledged its continued commitment to evidence-based policy engagement, strategic communication and conflict prevention initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable peace, security and national resilience as Nigeria prepares for another electoral cycle.
Author
Leave a comment