Daniel Bwala Blames Governors for Rising Kidnappings

Presidential aide Daniel Bwala says state governors should take responsibility for kidnappings in Nigeria, arguing that stronger local governance could improve security.

Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has said state governors should be held accountable for every kidnapping in Nigeria that occurs within their states. Speaking during an interview on the Morayo Show, Bwala argued that persistent insecurity at the grassroots reflects failures in governance and poor management of funds intended for local development and security.

According to Bwala, “Every k+dnapping and abd¥ction that takes place in any state of the Nigeria, hold that governor responsible. And I will say, and I want it to be the catching word. Every local government, all the k+dnappings have taken place in local government.”

He also questioned how funds allocated under the Safe School Initiative had been used. Bwala said the programme was introduced to improve security around schools through measures such as perimeter fencing and early warning systems. He stated, “There was this thing called Safe School Initiative that was started since in which moneys were given to states to create perimeter fencing, early science warning, and all of those checks to the schools. Ask your governor where that money went to.”

Bwala further argued that local governments would be better equipped to address kidnappings in Nigeria if they received direct access to their statutory allocations. Drawing from discussions with officials in Oyo State, he claimed that some local governments receive hundreds of millions of naira every month.

He said, “I was in Oyo and I engaged with the Oyo State government. In fact, in the local government in Oyo, three local government. I say this local government every month, 600 million is coming here. And that’s how it goes across Nigeria.

For God of heaven and earth, if these people had allowed the money to go to the chairman, and that money is used in that locality, women will not struggle to be dying while giving birth. The pupils at the primary school will have good education. Local vigilante will be equipped and empowered to resist. Local policing will be strong there, and the welfare of the old people in the local government would have been taken care of,”

What role do you think state and local governments should play in improving security across Nigeria?