By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Senator Gbenga Daniel has declared that Nigeria cannot achieve a strong economy without security, just as it cannot sustain lasting security without a strong economy, describing the two as inseparable.
Daniel made the remark on Thursday, 3 September , 2026, while delivering preliminary remarks as Special Guest of Honour at the 7th Freedom Online Yearly Lecture, held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, themed :”Economy and Security: The Future of Nigeria.”
He spoke ahead of the main lecture delivered by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, whom he commended the organisers for inviting to further the discussion.
On the economy, the former Ogun State governor noted that Nigeria had recorded encouraging signs, citing a growth rate of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, with improvements in agriculture and services.
He maintained, however, that the true test of economic progress lay not in GDP figures alone, but in what Nigerians experienced daily.
“Can a young person find decent work? Can a farmer safely reach the farm? Can a manufacturer produce competitively? Can a small business survive the cost of power, transport and finance? Can investors commit their resources with confidence?” he asked.
Daniel said these questions led directly to the issue of security, stressing that security was not merely a matter for the military and police, but an essential part of economic infrastructure.
He explained that fear kept farmers from their land, unsafe roads raised the cost of transporting goods, and insecurity discouraged investment in fearful communities.
Citing figures to buttress his point, he disclosed that more than 7,800 people were reportedly abducted between July 2025 and June 2026, describing the statistic as both a security concern and an economic warning.
Despite the challenges, the senator expressed optimism about the country’s potential, pointing to its young population, dynamic entrepreneurial culture, growing technology sector, strong financial institutions and vibrant creative economy.
He said the task ahead was to create the conditions, namely security, infrastructure and opportunity, under which Nigerian ability could flourish at scale.
On the economy’s structure, Daniel noted that oil remained important but could no longer anchor the nation’s future alone, revealing that the non-oil sector accounted for approximately 95.8 per cent of real GDP in the second quarter of 2026.
He attributed this to growing contributions from agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, financial services, tourism, entertainment and the digital economy.
He stressed the need to convert these sectors into productive jobs, higher incomes and better living standards, particularly for young Nigerians, who he said needed more than speeches.
“They need skills, employment, access to capital, technology and a society in which enterprise and hard work can lead to a better life. If we give our young people opportunity, they will build Nigeria. If we deny them opportunity, frustration will grow and social stability will suffer,” he said.
Citing Lagos and Ogun states as examples, the senator noted that both states, though not without challenges, demonstrated what could be achieved when population, enterprise, infrastructure and opportunity converged.
He charged the country to extend such opportunities nationwide, so that young entrepreneurs in Aba, Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri could build with the same confidence as their counterparts in Lagos.
Rounding off his remarks, Daniel said the Nigeria of tomorrow would be shaped by the decisions made today, adding that securing farms, roads and communities, alongside job creation and investment in young people, would strengthen food security, commerce, investment and social stability.
“I remain optimistic about Nigeria, not because our problems are small, but because our capacity is greater than our problems. We have the people, the resources, the market and the entrepreneurial spirit. What we need is the security, leadership, infrastructure and discipline to convert potential into prosperity,” he said, before inviting Governor Sanwo-Olu to deliver the main lecture.
