BY ADEKOLA BOLUWAJI NIFEMI
Since taking office in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has faced an avalanche of national challenges. Chief among them—yet tragically enduring—is the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria. Despite lofty campaign promises and a declared resolve to reform security institutions, Tinubu’s administration has thus far failed to present or execute a coherent strategy to stem the tide of violence plaguing the country. His tenure is increasingly being marked not by decisive action, but by a troubling combination of silence, indecisiveness, and misplaced priorities.
Banditry, Kidnapping, and Terror: A Bleeding Nation
From the rural communities in Zamfara and Niger to the urban centers of Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria remains under siege by a spectrum of violent actors—bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and criminal gangs. Nigerians continue to live in fear, uncertain of their safety on highways, in schools, or even within their homes. Rather than abating, the waves of violence seem to be mutating and expanding under Tinubu’s watch.
Recent high-profile kidnappings, mass abductions of schoolchildren, and attacks on rural communities have become all too common. The government’s response has typically followed a predictable—and ineffective—pattern: condemnation, followed by vague promises of reform and military deployment that yield little lasting effect.
Empty Rhetoric, Lacking Results
Tinubu campaigned on a platform of renewed hope, pledging to overhaul the security architecture and make Nigeria safer. Yet, a year into his presidency, these promises to remain unfulfilled. His administration has offered no significant reforms in intelligence coordination, policing, or border control. The security agencies continue to suffer from underfunding, poor morale, and allegations of corruption.
Moreover, President Tinubu’s national address and public communication on matters of national security have been sporadic, ambiguous, or absent altogether. Nigerians are left to ask: where is the leadership when it matters most?
Misplaced Priorities and Political Games
Even more disheartening is the sense that the Tinubu government has been more focused on consolidating political power than addressing the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. While insecurity festers, the government appears more concerned with defending bloated budgets, funding unnecessary luxury projects, and sustaining an expensive political class.
The recent approval of extravagant government vehicles and foreign trips by top officials sends a jarring message to a nation in distress. These actions reflect a disconnect between the ruling elite and the lived reality of Nigerians who can barely afford food, let alone personal safety.
A Crisis of Confidence
Security is the most fundamental responsibility of any government. When citizens no longer feel protected, the social contract begins to unravel. Under Tinubu’s administration, public confidence in government ability to ensure security is dangerously low. This lack of trust further emboldens criminal groups and undermines legitimate state authority.
The international community is also watching. Investor confidence—already weak due to economic instability—is further dampened by fears of unchecked violence and weak state enforcement. Nigeria’s regional leadership role is also compromised when it cannot ensure order within its own borders.
What Needs to Change
Criticism of Tinubu’s handling of security is not partisan—it is a demand for accountability. Nigerians deserve a leadership that treats security as a matter of urgency, not rhetoric. A few clear steps would be:
•Overhaul the security architecture: Reorganize and modernize the police and armed forces, with a focus on intelligence and community-based policing.
•Hold leadership accountable: Replace ineffective security chiefs and hold public officials to performance metrics.
•Engage communities: Work with local leaders and civil society to gather intelligence and build trust.
•Invest in prevention: Address root causes like poverty, unemployment, and poor education that feed criminal recruitment.
Conclusion
President Bola Tinubu inherited a troubled security situation, but one year into his presidency, excuses no longer suffice. Nigeria cannot afford a leader who governs by inertia. Tinubu must wake up to the harsh reality that his legacy may well be defined by how he handles insecurity. So far, that legacy is one of failure. The time for political posturing is over. What Nigeria needs now is leadership—bold, transparent, and unwavering. Until then, the Nigerian people remain in peril, betrayed by yet another administration that promised safety but delivered silence.