Trump’s Comments Reflect Global Concern Over Nigeria’s Insecurity – Okey Ikechukwu

By Chinedu Echianu

Renowned public policy analyst and communication scholar, Professor Okey Ikechukwu has urged Nigerians to face the realities of the country’s worsening insecurity rather than dismissing recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump as mere foreign interference.

Speaking in Abuja at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025, Prof. Ikechukwu described Trump’s remarks on Nigeria’s security situation as “a forceful global endorsement of realities we have ignored for too long.”
He recalled that in 1993, following the annulment of the June 12 election, many Nigerians erroneously believed that the United States would intervene to restore democracy. “We later learnt that nations act only in their own interests, not in the interests of other countries,” he said.

Prof. Ikechukwu warned that similar misplaced expectations persist today. “Nobody is coming here to solve our problems. Nations respect their own strategic interests first,” he stated, noting that even Trump’s comments must be viewed through the lens of U.S. foreign policy priorities.
The scholar highlighted how China has become deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s economic landscape, particularly in the extractive and manufacturing sectors which he said is the reason why the Asian nation was quick to condemn the comments made by the U.S. President, Donald Trump. “China is getting more than anyone else in Nigeria today—across all sectors, including lithium mining. So, we must stop deceiving ourselves,” he added.

On insecurity, Prof. Ikechukwu lamented the growing perception that bandits, insurgents, and armed herders operate with impunity. He decried the proliferation of assault rifles in the hands of non-state actors while law-abiding citizens are restricted from owning basic self-defense weapons. “Some communities have been wiped out and taken over. Planes have been shot down, soldiers killed, and yet, responses remain weak. The military is overstretched,” he noted, warning that “there appears to be a silent economy around the crisis.”

According to him, the insurgency in Nigeria also benefits global arms dealers who profit from continued instability. He recounted a 2023 visit to the Multinational Joint Task Force headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, where he observed firsthand the international dimensions of the conflict. “There is a serious economy and international element around the crisis,” he said. “Our matter will not have come to the global stage if there was no matter in the first place.”

While acknowledging that Trump’s comments have drawn global attention to Nigeria’s security challenges, Prof. Ikechukwu urged the government to seize the moment by making specific demands that could lead to tangible support. “If America is serious about helping Nigeria, we must define what we need — drone-facilitated engagements, logistical intelligence, or preemptive data. Without clear demands, we gain nothing,” he advised.
He also called for stronger community intelligence networks and greater accountability in local governance, criticizing leaders who divert funds meant for development.  “It’s not enough to feed refugees or distribute palliatives. That is consumption, not development,” he said. “Many are even investing to ensure refugees remain in camps because it sustains their corrupt interests.

Prof. Ikechukwu concluded by urging Nigerians to move beyond denial and self-deception. “Donald Trump spoke based on information available to him. You cannot change that by simply denying the realities. Our task is to use this global attention to strengthen our systems and restore security,” he said.