National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a strong warning to critics of President Bola Tinubu, saying anyone who underestimates the President does so at their own peril.
Speaking at the 2025 National Cyber Security Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Ribadu described Tinubu as a highly intelligent and forward-thinking leader, especially in the area of technology and governance.
“Mr. President is a digital President. He is well-educated and understands the times. People who underestimate him are only deceiving themselves,” Ribadu said.
He assured the audience, which included international guests and tech stakeholders, that Nigeria is becoming safer and more stable under Tinubu’s leadership.
“Nigeria is getting better every day. The economy is stabilising. We are in control and working closely with major telecom companies. Nigeria is safe—ignore those making noise,” he said.
Ribadu also claimed security across troubled regions has improved, noting that the Niger Delta is now more peaceful and that normalcy is returning to the South-East. He warned those fueling unrest from abroad that the government would track and prosecute them.
He accused some critics of the administration of being desperate and out of touch. “They caused ethnic and religious problems in the past and now they want to return to power. Nigerians are wiser now,” he added.
The NSA also urged telecom firms and foreign investors to put their confidence in Nigeria, describing the country as Africa’s future.
On the cybersecurity front, Ribadu stressed the importance of resilience in digital infrastructure, saying it is crucial for national security and economic growth. He highlighted the role of the recently activated National Cyber Crime Centre in protecting key institutions like banks, schools, and markets from cyber threats.
In his keynote address, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the Commission is going fully digital by the end of 2025. This includes online petition submissions, digital investigations, and prosecution processes.
Olukoyede revealed that the EFCC has arrested 194 cybercrime suspects recently, many of whom used fake Nigerian identities, and secured 146 convictions.
The National Cyber Security Conference, themed “Building a Resilient Digital Future,” brought together stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against cyber threats.