Senator Nwoko has proposed self-defense as a response to Nigeria’s growing security challenges, suggesting that arming citizens could curb the boldness of criminal activities. He recounted a personal tragedy to underscore the need for self-protection, describing how his Senior Legislative Aide was abducted and killed by gunmen in Abuja. Nwoko emphasized that if residents had been armed, the attackers might have been deterred from attempting door-to-door kidnappings. “If he had a gun or if members of that estate had guns, do you think the kidnappers would knock from house to house?” he argued.

State Leadership Critique and Call for Economic Policy Change

Nwoko also highlighted the pressures he faces from constituents due to what he described as a lack of effective governance at the state level. He pointed to the state’s substantial debt profile, which, he said, limits the government’s capacity to meet public needs despite receiving significant monthly revenue from the federation account. Nwoko criticized the state’s reliance on debt repayment as an excuse for unmet infrastructural needs, asserting that leaders should prioritize community welfare.

Additionally, he urged the Federal Government to prohibit refined product imports to protect and support local refineries. He suggested this shift would strengthen the local economy and reduce the dependence on foreign imports, providing a more sustainable solution for Nigeria’s economic and energy sectors.