Why Lagos LP Candidate Rhodes-Vivour Says FG Should Consider Firearms Licensing If It Cannot Protect Nigerians

The 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has issued a blunt warning to the Federal Government: either secure Nigerians or consider licensing firearms so citizens can defend themselves.

Rhodes-Vivour stated this during an interview on Channels Television's The Morning Brief, where he expressed deep concerns over Nigeria's worsening security situation and the government's inability to stop nationwide abductions.

His remarks follow a weekend marked by fresh kidnappings in Kwara and Ogun States, adding to the growing insecurity that has spread far beyond the northern region.

According to him, the continued destruction of public institutions and the collapse of trust in government are driving Nigerians into fear and hopelessness - a situation he described as dangerous and unsustainable.

Rhodes-Vivour argued that repeated government failures will naturally push citizens to seek ways to protect themselves, noting that short-term measures from authorities will not stop people from looking for long-term safety solutions.

He described the current situation as one where asking citizens to remain helpless is "wickedness,ÔÇØ especially when governments fail to perform their most basic duty: protect lives and property.

He added that the FG must now choose between meaningful action or allowing citizens access to tools for self-protection, warning that the country is approaching a point where people may no longer tolerate being defenseless.

His comments come just as South-West governors held an emergency security meeting in Ibadan - another sign that regional leaders are increasingly alarmed by escalating threats, especially around schools, highways, and rural communities.

Security analysts say the renewed calls for firearms licensing reflect growing frustration in a country where kidnapping has become rampant and trust in the security architecture continues to erode.