National Security, Human Rights, Dominate Gavel International Lecture
The OPTS Hall at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alausa, was filled to capacity on November 11, 2025, as legal luminaries, security strategists, scholars and civil society voices gathered for the Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards. This year’s theme, “The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulnerable Communities: A Human Rights Perspective”, set the tone for a tense, yet hopeful conversation about the country’s future.
Chairman of the event, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, opened the forum with a call for collective introspection, describing the gathering as a rare chance to rethink the nation’s direction. With insecurity deepening across the country, he stressed that the government’s duty to protect citizens – particularly those most exposed to the excesses of security operations – remains non-negotiable.
The Keynote Address, delivered by Prof Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, challenged prevailing assumptions about Nigeria’s security strategy. He argued that many policies created to defend the nation have ironically, placed its weakest populations in greater danger. Women, children, internally displaced persons and ethnic minorities, he said, are increasingly caught in the crossfire of laws and enforcement methods drifting away from constitutional safeguards.
Prof Ali called for a fundamental shift from Nigeria’s traditional “State-centric” approach to a “human-centric” model, that treats security as more than military hardware and policing. True security, he maintained, must reflect economic inclusion, social cohesion and political participation – values that uphold dignity and strengthen trust between citizens and the State.
He also took aim at aspects of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, warning that provisions permitting prolonged detention, intrusive surveillance and loosely regulated enforcement, could easily become tools of abuse. To restore balance, he urged the creation of independent oversight bodies, stronger parliamentary scrutiny and specialised human-rights training for security agencies.
Retired Major General James Ataguba added a military perspective, cautioning that the persistent use of soldiers for civilian policing undermines both constitutional order and public safety. He traced many of Nigeria’s security failures to corruption and weak institutions, insisting that without swift and impartial justice, insecurity will continue to flourish.
Other Speakers reinforced these concerns. Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, highlighted the role of transparent communication in rebuilding public trust, while Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, advocated for decentralising policing structures to make security interventions more responsive and community-based.
Publisher of Gavel International, Mustapha Adekunle Ogunsakin, underscored the urgency of the national conversation, warning that security must never come at the expense of constitutional freedoms. The event also featured the presentation of lifetime achievement awards to distinguished Nigerians – including Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN – for their contributions to law, justice and the protection of human rights.
