ADC security reform plan Nigeria outlined as party proposes intelligence overhaul and decentralised policing amid rising terrorism concerns

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled a new three-point security reform proposal aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s national security architecture amid renewed concerns over rising terrorism across the country.

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The party’s proposal comes in response to the latest Global Terrorism Index, which reportedly shows a 43 percent increase in terror attacks in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), rising from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025.

According to the report referenced by the party, Borno State accounted for 67 percent of recorded attacks and 72 percent of related deaths, while civilians made up the majority of casualties.

Reacting to the figures, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the party would introduce what he described as decisive reforms to address systemic failures in Nigeria’s security framework.

He said the first pillar of the plan focuses on intelligence coordination, arguing that Nigeria’s challenge is not a lack of intelligence but poor integration between security agencies.

The proposal includes a legally mandated national intelligence coordination system led by a central coordinator, alongside a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force to improve response efficiency.

The second component centres on decentralising policing structures.

The ADC proposed a multi-layered system involving federal, state and local security frameworks, designed to strengthen community-level policing across all 774 local government areas and improve accountability and response times.

The third pillar shifts focus towards preventive security measures.

Abdullahi said the party would prioritise intelligence-driven early warning systems and rapid response units across states to prevent attacks before they occur, rather than relying solely on post-incident responses.

He stressed that the overarching goal of the proposal is to transition Nigeria’s security strategy from reactive operations to proactive prevention, describing the approach as essential to reducing civilian casualties and restoring public confidence.

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The announcement adds to growing political debate over national security, as opposition parties increasingly position themselves with alternative policy frameworks ahead of the 2027 general elections.