By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has declared that security is the precondition for economic growth ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that no investor can deploy capital where safety is not guaranteed.
Mohammed made the assertion on Thursday, 3 September,2026, while chairing the 7th Freedom Online Yearly Lecture at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, themed “2027 Elections: Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future.”
In his opening remarks, Mohammed commended Akinadewo and his team for sustaining the lecture series for seven consecutive years, describing the platform as one that had kept faith with informing the public without fear and provoking thought without malice, and had since become a staple for national reflection.
Speaking further, the former minister said political stability depends on economic inclusion, noting that when young people are gainfully employed and can see a clear path to self-actualisation, the political space becomes less susceptible to manipulation and electoral violence.
Mohammed urged Nigerians to view the 2027 election as a commitment to continuity and nation-building rather than merely a contest for power.
He stressed that politics must never override governance, adding that the true measure of the country’s democratic progress lies in whether electoral outcomes strengthen institutions, boost investor confidence and guarantee peace across communities.
On the economy, he acknowledged that the Federal Government was confronting difficult challenges in security and economic reform that could not be solved overnight, but would instead require consistency, patience, institutional strengthening and national cooperation.
He called for constructive engagement from stakeholders towards the administration’s efforts to stabilise the economy, attract investment and improve security.
On the media’s role, Mohammed maintained that journalists were not mere observers of national events but active participants in shaping national discourse, particularly during an election season.
“We need a media that is robust without being reckless; critical without being destructive; patriotic without becoming partisan; and free without forgetting the enormous responsibility that comes with freedom,” he said.
He warned that sensationalism, fake news and incendiary rhetoric could act as accelerants to instability, whereas responsible journalism would elevate public discourse from tribal and partisan sentiment to policy, competence and concrete solutions.
“I charge the press to remain the custodians of truth as we head into another critical transition period,” he said.
Mohammed rounded off his remarks by urging attendees to listen attentively, engage constructively, and leave the event with a clearer vision of how to collectively safeguard the nation’s future.
The event, organised by Freedom Online, was attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State as Special Guest Speaker, Senator Gbenga Daniel as Special Guest of Honour, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba, as Chief Host, and the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Freedom Online, Mr Gabriel Akinadewo.
