Editorial: Security Must Not Eclipse the Constitution

News Rendezvous 

The imposition of an 18-hour curfew in Abuja by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, demands sober national reflection.

No government should take lightly the decision to restrict citizens’ movement for 18 out of 24 hours. Such a measure is extraordinary. 

It carries economic, social, and constitutional implications that extend far beyond immediate security calculations.

The Nigerian Constitution, specifically the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, guarantees freedom of movement under Section 41. While rights may be restricted in the interest of security, such restrictions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.

The question before us is simple: Does the present situation in Abuja justify an 18-hour lockdown?

Legal scholar and APC stalwart Umar D. Duhu has raised concerns that deserve serious attention. Whether one agrees with his political leanings or not, the constitutional questions he raises are valid. Abuja is not under a declared state of emergency. 

The National Assembly has not invoked extraordinary emergency powers. Yet, residents are subjected to a sweeping restriction that fundamentally alters daily life.

Security is non-negotiable, But so is constitutionalism.

History teaches us that democracies are not eroded overnight. They are weakened gradually when extraordinary measures become normalised. When executive power expands without sufficient oversight. When urgency overrides due process.

The FCT is unique, governed directly by federal authority. But that uniqueness does not suspend constitutional guarantees.

If the curfew is backed by compelling intelligence and lawful authority, the government owes the public transparency. If not, it risks fostering distrust and litigation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must ensure that governance within the nation’s capital remains firmly anchored in constitutional order. 

Security and liberty are not mutually exclusive. 

In fact, durable security depends on public trust, and public trust depends on adherence to the rule of law.

At News Rendezvous, we maintain that safeguarding Nigeria requires strength. But it also requires restraint.

The Constitution must remain supreme, even in moments of tension.