The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has identified poverty as the primary driver of insecurity in Nigeria, urging leaders and citizens alike to embrace collective responsibility in addressing the challenge.
Obasa made the remarks on Sunday while delivering a keynote address at the 31st Pre-Ramadan Lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni.
Dignitaries at the event included the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is’haq Oloyede; President of the association, Dr. Abdulmumini Alao; Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu; and the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur.
In a statement issued after the lecture, Obasa stressed that insecurity should not be viewed solely through the lens of policing but as a broader socio-economic issue rooted in widespread poverty.
“Insecurity is a function of poverty,” he said, adding that true security goes beyond physical safety to include economic empowerment and social welfare.
The Speaker maintained that safeguarding lives and property is a shared obligation, not one limited to security agencies. He called on citizens to be vigilant and proactive within their communities, encouraging them to take interest in happenings around them rather than remain indifferent.
“Security is not about the police alone; it is about all of us. It is a collective spiritual duty,” Obasa stated.
He also urged public officeholders to prioritise transparency, fairness, and service to humanity in governance, while appealing to affluent Nigerians to extend support to the less privileged.
According to him, compassion, community support, and responsible leadership are critical to fostering a safer and more equitable society.
Obasa concluded by emphasising that meaningful progress in national security would only be achieved through a combination of good governance, poverty alleviation, and collective civic responsibility.
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