GRV Calls for Firearm Licensing as Insecurity Worsens Across Nigeria

Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), has urged the federal government to consider licensing firearms for citizens if it cannot guarantee their safety amid rising insecurity and frequent abductions nationwide.

GRV, who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Channels Television's The Morning Brief.

According to him, the escalating wave of kidnappings — including recent incidents in Kwara and Ogun States — reflects a broader collapse of public institutions and a growing loss of confidence in government.

“This is not just about the North,” he said. “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 added that government failure is pushing Nigerians towards the need for self-protection.

“If the government cannot sit up, then they should start considering licensing firearms,”
he said, blaming persistent insecurity on leadership failure.

‘Citizens Cannot Remain Helpless’

GRV warned that when critical institutions such as the judiciary, police, and military fail to assure justice and protection, citizens naturally seek alternative means of security.

“If people do not believe the judiciary will deliver justice or that the police will protect lives, they must act,” he said. “If the military leaves and terrorists immediately kidnap and kill, people will have to defend themselves.”

He described expecting defenceless citizens to remain passive as “wickedness,” questioning how many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken.

“If I were in government, I would focus on protecting lives, not just the next election,” he added.

‘Government Not Valuing Human Life Enough’

GRV, however, expressed doubt that a firearm-licensing policy could work effectively due to low public trust in government.

“The way they manage security leaves room for doubt, conspiracy, and a credibility crisis,” he said, accusing political leaders of prioritizing electioneering over citizens’ welfare.

He also condemned ongoing negotiations with terrorists as “unsustainable”, saying the approach fails to address the root causes of insecurity.

GRV criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the government has “not valued human life enough.”

Debate Over Self-Defence Intensifies

Heightened insecurity across rural and urban communities has revived national debates on self-defence, especially in regions where security agencies are overstretched.

In April, retired General T.Y. Danjuma urged citizens to defend themselves if the state cannot protect them.

The Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has also floated the idea of regulated vigilante groups with licensed, controlled access to firearms.

Some northern groups, including the Arewa Grassroots Leaders Assembly, have called for legalising AK-47s for rural self-defence.

However, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has cautioned that widespread weaponisation could lead to anarchy.

Nigeria’s current laws — particularly the 1959 Firearms Act — prohibit civilians from owning automatic weapons such as AK-47 rifles. Only certain categories of non-assault firearms, including pump-action rifles, may be licensed under strict regulations.