The Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) has described Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary as a moment for sober reflection, urging the Federal Government to approve and publish a validated national policy on preventing and countering terrorism.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Idris Miliki Abdul, the Lokoja-based organisation said the anniversary comes with mixed feelings. While the country is not where it was at independence, it said, it is also not where Nigerians want it to be. Even so, the group noted that remaining one nation despite years of tribulations is reason enough to celebrate.
The organisation listed insecurity, corruption, poverty, economic deprivation, unemployment, inflation and the low participation of youths in governance as major concerns.
It also pointed to positives, including a maturing democracy in which citizens elect leaders at national and sub-national levels every four years, improvements in infrastructure, and the growth of public and private educational institutions. On education, it noted that the financial cost to citizens remains outrageous. The group called for more industrial development to create jobs for young Nigerians.
The statement also criticised those it accused of plunging the country into needless hardship without remorse.
It said such persons had “planted land mines” on the path to national greatness, including ethnic and religious divisions, induced party strife, pressure on the legislature, refusal to obey court orders, and the economic hardship of ordinary citizens and market women. The statement said Nigerians must remain vigilant against such schemes.
Calling on federal and state governments to tackle insecurity, CHRCR said violent extremism in Nigeria is often driven by governance failure, corruption, inequality and lack of opportunity. It said political exclusion, unemployment and poverty leave individuals vulnerable to extremist narratives, while weak institutions and poor service delivery allow extremism to thrive.
According to the group, Nigeria’s response remains fragmented and uneven. Interventions often operate in silos, without the strategic coordination, shared data systems and unified policy direction needed for lasting impact. It also observed that the number of statutory and non-statutory security agencies across all tiers of government has grown, while roles at federal, state and local levels are often disconnected, duplicated or misaligned. The organisation called for a harmonised national framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), with clearly defined roles and measurable outcomes.
Specifically, CHRCR urged the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently approve and make public the improved counter-terrorism policy document.
The document was validated within the past year and was facilitated and coordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Publishing it, the group said, would enable states to develop their own policies.
The statement stressed that the Nigerian Constitution does not allow a choice between rights and security but requires both. “Security without welfare is brittle; welfare without security is fragile,” it said, urging civil society, organised labour, government and citizens to ensure rights are “living guarantees” rather than “paper promises.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the group called on political parties, candidates, supporters and voters to play by the rules and respect the choices of individuals and groups, so that polls are peaceful and credible. It warned that Nigeria “cannot afford to fail in its democracy journey at 66.”
The organisation ended by wishing Nigeria a happy 66th independence anniversary.
