Fashola Urges Lawyers to Take Lead in Tackling Insecurity
Former Lagos State Governor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Babatunde Raji Fashola, has called on legal practitioners to play a more active role in addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges, stressing that the responsibility should not be left solely to politicians and security agencies.
Fashola made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch in Lagos.
The lecture, titled “Law, Leadership and the Ballot: Governance Beyond Politics,” focused on the role of the legal profession in strengthening governance and public safety.
He urged attorneys-general at both federal and state levels to become more visible in discussions on security and justice administration, particularly amid rising criminal activities across the country.
According to him, combating insecurity requires a coordinated effort involving the executive, legislature and judiciary, with lawyers occupying a critical position in shaping laws and ensuring their effective enforcement.
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Fashola expressed concern over what he described as an imbalance in public accountability for security matters, noting that blame is often directed solely at presidents and governors while legal institutions remain largely absent from public scrutiny.
The former Minister of Works and Housing emphasised that effective crime control must encompass prevention, detection, prosecution and conviction, warning that weak enforcement of existing laws continues to undermine public safety.
He further linked insecurity to broader governance issues, arguing that sustainable economic and social development cannot be achieved without a strong rule of law framework.
On road security, Fashola advocated stricter enforcement of vehicle registration laws, saying anonymous vehicles create opportunities for criminal activities and hinder law enforcement efforts.
He described registration plates as vital tools for accountability and modern policing.
The former governor also challenged members of the legal profession to move beyond debates and champion practical legal and institutional reforms capable of strengthening governance and restoring public confidence in public institutions.
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Speaking on the Law Week theme, “Altering the Status Quo: Going Against the Norm,” Fashola called for simpler legal language in court proceedings.
He specifically criticised the frequent use of the term “status quo,” suggesting alternatives such as “current situation” to improve public understanding and reduce conflicting interpretations of court orders.
Earlier, Chairman of the NBA Ikeja Branch, Adeniji Kazeem, described the theme as a call for bold thinking and institutional reforms in response to Nigeria’s governance and security challenges.
Chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Chukwudi Enebeli, said the event was designed to stimulate critical discussions on governance, accountability and national development.
He disclosed that the week-long programme would feature key policymakers, including Jumoke Oduwole, and a memorial lecture by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana.
The 2026 NBA Ikeja Law Week continues with sessions focused on governance reform, economic transformation and the role of the legal profession in national development.
