A REMARKABLE DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA: ECONOMY, SECURITY AND THE NATION’S FUTURE
A Speech Delivered by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Former Minister of Information and Culture, Serving as Chairman of the 7th Freedom Online Yearly Lecture at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on September 3, 2026
Protocol
The Special Guest Speaker, His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State;
The Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency, Senator Gbenga Daniel;
The Chief Host, Mr. Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors;
Our Host, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Freedom Online;
Distinguished Captains of Industry, Media Executives, Guests, Gentlemen of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen.
1. It is a privilege to stand before you today to chair the 7th edition of the Freedom Online Yearly Lecture. When Mr. Akinadewo and the management of Freedom Online reached out to me, I accepted without hesitation, not merely because of the friendship we share, but because of what this platform has come to represent. For seven years running, Freedom Online has kept faith with a simple but increasingly rare commitment: to inform without fear and to provoke thought without malice. I must therefore commend Mr. Akinadewo and his team for their consistency in sustaining this intellectual platform, which has become a staple for national reflection.
2. And so it is fitting that a platform built on that kind of candour should choose, for its 7th lecture, a theme as timely as this one: 2027 Elections: Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future.
3. I will not attempt to pre-empt where this conversation should land. That responsibility belongs, most fittingly, to the Special Guest Speaker, His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a leader who understands firsthand the complex demands of governance, security, infrastructure development and economic innovation. Lagos remains Nigeria’s clearest demonstration that with vision, partnership between government and citizens and consistency of purpose, progress is achievable even amid global headwinds. I have no doubt he will illuminate this theme with the depth and candour it deserves.
4. What I will offer, as Chairman, is simply this reflection: as we look toward 2027, our collective duty, as citizens, as media, as leaders, is to strengthen the foundations already being laid, not merely to critique them.
5. It is important to note, first, that security is the precondition for economic growth. No business thrives in an atmosphere of uncertainty, and no foreign or local investor deploys capital where safety cannot be guaranteed. In turn, political stability depends on economic inclusion. When young people are gainfully employed and see a clear path to self-actualisation, the political space becomes far less susceptible to manipulation and electoral violence.
6. Second, the 2027 election must be viewed not merely as a contest for power, but as a commitment to continuity and nation-building. Politics must never be allowed to override governance. The real measure of our democratic progress is whether our electoral outcomes strengthen institutions, bolster investor confidence and guarantee peace across our communities.
7. It is also important to acknowledge that the Federal Government is confronting some very difficult challenges in the areas of security and economic reform. These are not challenges that can be solved overnight. They require consistency, patience, institutional strengthening and, above all, national cooperation.
8. The efforts being made by the administration to stabilise the economy, attract investment, improve security and create a more sustainable foundation for growth deserve constructive engagement from all stakeholders.
9. Having spent a considerable part of my public life in public communication, I have come to appreciate that the media is not merely an observer of national events. It is an important participant in shaping the national conversation. In an election season, that responsibility becomes even greater. The media has the power to inform citizens, interrogate claims, expose falsehoods and provide a platform for competing ideas. But it also has the power, if irresponsibly deployed, to amplify fear, deepen divisions and turn political disagreements into ethnic, religious or regional conflicts. We therefore need a media that is robust without being reckless; critical without being destructive; patriotic without becoming partisan; and free without forgetting the enormous responsibility that comes with freedom.
10. During a campaign season, media reporting directly shapes public perception, economic confidence and national security. Sensationalism, fake news and incendiary rhetoric act as accelerants to instability. Responsible journalism, on the other hand, elevates the discourse from tribal and partisan sentiment to policy, competence and concrete solutions. I charge the press to remain the custodians of truth as we head into another critical transition period.
11. Finally, I invite you all to listen with keen attention, engage constructively and leave this room with a clearer vision of how we can collectively safeguard the future of our nation.
12. Thank you for your kind attention.
