Former Minister of Works and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Babatunde Fashola, has called for stronger law enforcement, improved security, greater public accountability and better governance, saying these are essential for Nigeria’s development and economic growth.
Fashola made the call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, held in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, “Law, Leadership and the Ballot: Governance Beyond Politics,” the former Lagos State governor said Nigeria must move beyond political discussions and focus on practical actions that improve the lives of citizens.
According to him, security and the rule of law remain the foundation upon which every successful society is built. He stressed that governments at all levels must give greater attention to protecting lives and property while ensuring that laws are consistently enforced.
Fashola noted that the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that the security and welfare of citizens are the primary responsibilities of government. For that reason, he argued, public safety should be the most important measure used to assess the performance of any administration.
“The Constitution is very clear about the purpose of government. Security and welfare come first,” he said.
The former minister explained that countries that effectively enforce their laws are more likely to attract investors, create jobs and encourage economic growth.
According to him, businesses thrive in environments where people feel safe and where laws are respected.
“Security and prosperity are inseparable,” he said.
He added that no nation can achieve sustainable development if criminal activities are allowed to flourish unchecked.
Fashola said effective governance requires the prevention of crime, the arrest and prosecution of offenders and a justice system capable of protecting innocent citizens.
He called for stronger cooperation among law enforcement agencies, the courts and policymakers to ensure that criminal acts are met with swift and appropriate responses.
The former governor also expressed concern about what he described as the limited public visibility of Attorneys-General during major criminal incidents.
According to him, chief law officers at both federal and state levels play important roles in the justice system and should be more active in public discussions surrounding criminal investigations and prosecutions.
He observed that public communication on major security incidents is often left to governors and presidents, even though legal officers are central to ensuring justice is served.
Fashola therefore urged legal practitioners to take a more active role in matters relating to public security and criminal justice.
He also called for closer collaboration among the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government.
According to him, effective governance requires coordinated efforts among all institutions responsible for maintaining law and order.
He said when government institutions work together, criminality can be tackled more effectively and public confidence in the justice system can be strengthened.
Fashola further linked governance challenges to poor compliance with existing laws and regulations.
As an example, he pointed to the widespread use of vehicles without registration plates across parts of the country.
According to him, vehicle registration is one of the most basic law enforcement tools available to authorities.
He explained that registration numbers help security agencies identify vehicle owners, track suspects and investigate crimes.
Allowing vehicles to operate without proper identification, he warned, makes the work of law enforcement agencies more difficult and weakens public safety.
The former governor therefore urged authorities to strictly enforce vehicle registration laws and ensure compliance regardless of an individual’s social status or influence.
He also appealed to citizens to obey the law and cooperate with security agencies.
On governance, Fashola said democracy alone does not automatically produce effective leadership.
According to him, governments must actively engage with citizens, understand their needs and ensure that public resources are directed towards addressing real problems.
Drawing from his experience as governor of Lagos State between 2007 and 2015, he recalled conducting surveys to determine the priorities of residents before making major policy and budget decisions.
He said data collection and public consultation helped his administration understand the needs of citizens and allocate resources more effectively.
According to him, governments should rely on facts and evidence rather than assumptions when making decisions.
“Governance should be driven by evidence and data, not by guesswork,” he said.
Fashola also highlighted the responsibilities of citizens under what he described as the social contract between government and the people.
While governments are expected to provide security, infrastructure and public services, citizens also have obligations to fulfil.
These responsibilities, he said, include obeying laws, paying taxes, respecting public institutions and supporting law enforcement efforts.
Good governance, according to him, cannot be achieved by government alone.
“It is a shared responsibility between the government and the governed,” he said.
Beyond security and governance, Fashola called for reforms within the legal system to make justice more accessible and easier for ordinary Nigerians to understand.
He expressed concern about the continued use of complicated legal terms and expressions that often confuse members of the public.
According to him, the legal profession should embrace simpler language that allows citizens to understand court proceedings and legal decisions.
He specifically criticised the frequent use of Latin phrases in legal documents and court orders.
Fashola argued that many of these expressions are outdated and create unnecessary confusion for people who are not trained in law.
He suggested that lawyers and judges adopt plain and straightforward language when communicating legal decisions.
“Why do we continue to communicate in a way that leaves ordinary citizens confused?” he asked.
“I believe the time has come to give the status quo a rest.”
To illustrate his point, he proposed replacing certain traditional legal expressions with simpler alternatives that ordinary Nigerians can easily understand.
According to him, when court orders are written in clear language, there is less room for misunderstanding and conflicting interpretations.
He noted that it is not uncommon for opposing parties in a legal dispute to leave court claiming victory after reading the same judgment.
“If everyone reading the same order arrives at different conclusions, then something is clearly wrong. We must do better,” he said.
The former minister said improving legal communication would enhance public trust in the justice system and reduce confusion surrounding court decisions.
As part of broader reforms, Fashola urged legal professionals to establish a task force dedicated to developing practical recommendations on law reform, law enforcement and regulatory compliance.
He said Nigeria has spent too much time identifying problems without taking sufficient action to solve them.
According to him, the country must move beyond discussions and begin implementing practical solutions.
“For too long, our default response has been to identify problems and talk about them,” he said.
“The real challenge is whether we are prepared to do something about them.”
His remarks drew attention to ongoing national conversations about insecurity, governance reforms, judicial efficiency and the need for stronger institutions.