Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), has called on the Federal Government to consider licensing firearms if it cannot guarantee the safety of citizens.
Rhodes-Vivour, who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, citing recent abductions in Kwara and Ogun States as evidence of worsening insecurity nationwide.
“This is not just about the north. We have seen abductions in Kwara and Ogun States over the weekend. Destruction of institutions and the loss of public trust make people lose hope in government,” he said.
He argued that persistent government failures could force citizens to seek self-defence, warning that short-term measures would not stop communities from pursuing long-term protection.
“If people do not believe the judiciary will deliver justice, or that the police will protect lives, they must act. If the military leaves and terrorists immediately kidnap and kill, people will have to defend themselves,” Rhodes-Vivour stated, describing the expectation that citizens remain helpless as “wickedness.”
He urged authorities to prioritise safeguarding lives over political ambitions. “If I were in government, I would focus on protecting lives, not only the next election,” he said, while questioning the credibility of any firearm-licensing initiative given low public trust in government.
Rhodes-Vivour criticised the administration’s security strategy, rejecting ongoing negotiations with terrorists as “unsustainable” and lamenting what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s failure to value human life. “The way they manage security leaves room for doubt, conspiracy, and a credibility crisis,” he added.
His comments come amid growing debates on self-protection in communities where security agencies are overstretched. In April, retired General T.Y. Danjuma urged citizens to defend themselves if the state could not guarantee safety.
Similarly, DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi has suggested a regulated approach involving licensed vigilantes with controlled access to weapons.
While groups such as the Arewa Grassroots Leaders Assembly have advocated legalising AK-47s for rural defence, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has cautioned that such measures could fuel anarchy and escalate violence.
Under current Nigerian law, civilians are prohibited from owning automatic weapons like AK-47s. The Firearms Act of 1959 permits licences only for certain non-assault firearms, such as pump-action rifles, under strict regulation.
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