Former Minister of Works and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Babatunde Fashola, has called for stronger law enforcement, greater public accountability and a renewed commitment to security as critical pillars of good governance in Nigeria.
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, in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, “Law, Leadership and the Ballot: Governance Beyond Politics,” the former Lagos State governor argued that security and the rule of law remain the foundation upon which economic growth and national development are built. He maintained that governments at all levels must move beyond political rhetoric and focus on implementing existing laws and constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, the Constitution clearly identifies the security and welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of government, making public safety the most important measure of governance. He noted that societies where laws are consistently enforced tend to attract investment, encourage entrepreneurship and create opportunities for prosperity.
“Security and prosperity are inseparable,” he said, stressing that effective governance requires the prevention of crime, prosecution of offenders and a justice system capable of protecting law-abiding citizens.
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Fashola also observed that Attorneys-General often leave communication on major criminal incidents to presidents and governors despite being central actors in the justice system. He therefore challenged legal practitioners to play a more active role in public security matters.
He further called for greater collaboration among the executive, legislature and judiciary to ensure that criminality is met with firm and coordinated responses capable of deterring offenders and reinforcing public confidence in the rule of law.
The former governor also linked governance failures to poor compliance with existing regulations, citing the widespread use of vehicles without registration plates. He described vehicle identification as a basic but essential law enforcement tool that enables authorities to track offenders and investigate crimes. Allowing vehicles to operate anonymously, he warned, undermines accountability and weakens public safety.
He urged authorities to strictly enforce registration requirements and called on citizens to comply with the law regardless of social status.
On governance, Fashola argued that democracy alone does not guarantee effective leadership, insisting that governments must continuously engage citizens, gather data and align public spending with the priorities of the people.
Drawing from his experience as governor, he recalled conducting statewide surveys to determine citizens’ needs and using the results to guide budgeting and policy decisions. He said evidence-based decision-making, rather than assumptions or political expediency, should drive governance.
He also emphasised that citizens have responsibilities under the social contract, including obeying laws, paying taxes and supporting law enforcement efforts. Good governance, he said, is a shared responsibility that requires commitment from both government and the governed.
As part of broader reforms, Fashola called for clearer legal communication to reduce public confusion. He urged courts and legal practitioners to use simpler and more accessible language in legal proceedings and documents.
Fashola said: “Why do we continue to communicate in a way that leaves ordinary citizens confused?
“I believe the time has come to give the status quo a rest.
“In keeping with the theme of this event—challenging conventions and moving beyond the norm—I propose that we replace that antiquated Latin expression with something far simpler: the current situation.
“Imagine a court order that states:
‘The current situation shall be maintained pending the hearing and determination of this matter.’
“And for clarity:
‘The current situation, as of today, is that all parties remain in the positions they presently occupy.’
“That is language that ordinary people can understand.
“When legal orders are written in clear, accessible language, there is less room for confusion and conflicting interpretations. Too often, after a judgment is delivered, both sides emerge claiming victory. If everyone reading the same order arrives at different conclusions, then something is clearly wrong. We must do better.
“That is my modest recommendation on improving communication within our legal system.”
He concluded by urging legal professionals to establish a task force to develop practical recommendations on law reform, law enforcement and regulatory compliance, saying Nigeria must move from merely identifying problems to taking concrete action to solve them.
“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.”
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