President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has attributed part of Nigeria’s persistent security challenges to weak governance at the grassroots level, stressing that effective local government administration is crucial to addressing insecurity across the country.
Speaking during his Democracy Day address on Friday, June 12, 2026, Tinubu said Nigeria’s democratic system cannot fully deliver security and development unless local councils are strengthened and made more functional.
According to the President, the failure of grassroots institutions has created governance gaps that allow insecurity to flourish in many communities.
“A fundamental challenge to our nation’s advancement has been ineffective local government administration,” Tinubu said, adding that some of the insecurity confronting the country stems from the “collapse of grassroots governance.”
He noted that his administration is pursuing reforms aimed at restoring autonomy and efficiency to local governments, insisting that governance must be felt directly by citizens at the community level.
The President stressed that democracy loses its meaning when it fails to improve the daily lives of citizens, particularly in areas of security, welfare and access to basic services.
Tinubu maintained that strengthening local government administration remains a key component of his Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that governance delivers tangible benefits to Nigerians.
He also linked national stability to ongoing reforms in the security sector, including increased recruitment into the police and armed forces, as well as expanded counterterrorism operations.
The President further assured Nigerians that his administration is committed to ensuring that democratic dividends are reflected not only at the federal and state levels but also in improved security and development outcomes at the grassroots.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over insecurity in several parts of the country and increasing calls for stronger coordination among federal, state and local authorities in tackling security threats.