Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, stated on Saturday, October 31, 2026, that Nigeria’s persistent national security challenges predated the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing that inherited security crises were rooted in long-standing structural decay.
Speaking as a guest at the 16th Convocation Ceremony of Achievers University in Owo, Ondo State, where 836 graduands received various academic degrees, the former lawmaker urged citizens and key stakeholders to evaluate current national security conditions through a historical lens rather than viewing them solely as recent developments.
Addressing the audience inside the university auditorium on Saturday morning, Dogara asserted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence developed over several years rather than arriving in May 2023.
He noted that the country’s security problems were deeply rooted in years of porous borders, illegal arms proliferation, high youth unemployment, and the spread of extremist ideologies.
Dogara remarked that acknowledging these historical realities was not an excuse for the government, as the facts required no defense, but stressed that the root causes of the crisis had established deep roots long before President Tinubu assumed office.
Also speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Achievers University, Prof. Omolola Irinoye, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to delivering quality education that blends intellectual development, practical skills acquisition, character building, and social responsibility. She noted that equips graduates to deploy their talents effectively toward solving complex national challenges.
