Experts have stressed that democracy must deliver tangible benefits to citizens for open societies to survive, urging governments to strengthen institutions, uphold accountability and promote active civic participation.
The experts made the call at the second edition of the Abuja Policy Lab organised by the German Embassy in Abuja.
The event was themed: “The open society and its enemies: How do we defend our freedom?”
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Günther, said democracies across the world were facing growing threats from disinformation, polarisation and declining public trust in institutions and the media.
She quoted German philosopher Karl Popper as saying that tolerance and freedom could not survive if their enemies were allowed to exploit those freedoms unchecked.
According to her, Germany’s history demonstrates that democracy, freedom and the rule of law require constant protection and renewal.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, Technical Adviser at the Regional Partnership for Democracy and Foreign Affairs Analyst, said democracy must improve citizens’ lives to earn their confidence.
According to him, poverty, weak service delivery and poor governance create opportunities for anti-democratic forces to thrive.
He urged the government to reduce poverty, improve access to justice and strengthen accountability, noting that about 63 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line.
Abdulkadir also called for improved border security, saying Nigeria must effectively secure its territory to protect its citizens.
Mrs Ene Obi, Executive Director, Ene Obi Centre for Development, said shrinking civic space and the under-representation of women, youths and persons with disabilities posed challenges to democratic governance.
She advocated reforms of the electoral system, institutionalised deliberative democracy and expanded civic education at the community level.
Obi said democracy could only thrive when citizens actively participated in governance and consistently demanded accountability from public institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ms Sophie Knebel, Resident Representative of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, said defending open societies required more than political rhetoric.
She said governments must ensure that democratic institutions remain accountable beyond elections and that citizens benefit from democracy through inclusive governance, dialogue and respect for human rights.
Knebel also warned against political narratives that undermine the rule of law, saying governments must respond effectively to citizens’ concerns over inequality and insecurity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panellists agreed that resilient institutions, independent judiciaries, credible electoral bodies, pluralistic media and civic education were critical to preventing extremist actors from exploiting democratic weaknesses.
They also noted that, according to the Nigeria Immigration Service and security experts, Nigeria has more than 1,400 illicit or irregular entry routes along its approximately 4,000-kilometre land borders. In contrast, only about 80 to 120 official border posts are manned.
The host urged stakeholders to sustain dialogue across sectors, saying the strength of an open society lies in its ability to resolve differences peacefully.
The Abuja Policy Lab is a German Embassy initiative designed to promote policy dialogue on governance, democracy and development in Nigeria.
Guests at the event included panellists, diplomats, civil society leaders and other policy stakeholders.
