By Adesakin Adefemi
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to urgently reorganise the country and equip its armed forces and police, warning that reliance on foreign powers such as the United States will not guarantee law and order.
Falana made the statement on Thursday, drawing a parallel with Cuba, where he suggested that policies of the United States government under President Donald Trump have triggered a humanitarian crisis, including severe fuel shortages. He urged Nigeria to take a cue from Iran’s approach to national sovereignty.
“We must learn from Iran that unless you reorganise your own country, unless you equip your armed forces, unless you equip your police force, there is no way an imperialist country like America will guarantee law and order in your country,” Falana declared.
The lawyer referenced the 2025 Christmas Day incident when Trump publicly announced that he had launched an air strike in Nigerian territory and killed terrorists. Falana said the development coincided with a surge in terrorist activities across the country.
“And that has happened since December, when this man on Christmas Day told the whole world, ‘I have struck a Nigerian, and I’ve killed terrorists,’ since then, terrorism has been on the increase in our country,” he stated.
Falana stressed that the government must immediately return to the drawing board to strengthen Nigeria’s security institutions. He urged the government to equip the armed forces and police to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
The comments come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with the US and Iran engaging in a war of words and actions. Falana’s statement is seen as a call to Nigerians to wake up to the reality of the country’s security situation.
Falana’s appeal is expected to resonate with Nigerians, who have been calling for improved security measures to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges facing the country. The government has been urged to take concrete steps to address the security situation and protect the lives of Nigerians.
The situation highlights the need for Nigeria to develop its own security capabilities and not rely on foreign powers for security. The country’s security agencies must be equipped and empowered to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
