Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has claimed that Nigeria would have been “overrun” by terrorists if not for what he described as the resolute interventions of the Tinubu administration.
Bwala said the security situation inherited by the administration had been made more difficult by the spread of terrorist groups across the Sahel, creating a wider regional threat that could spill into Nigeria through the country’s northern borders.
He made the claim on Thursday during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to the presidential aide, the scale of the security threat required a combination of military operations within Nigeria, stronger domestic security measures and cooperation with other countries.
Bwala said the movement of terrorist organisations across the Sahel had added another layer to Nigeria’s existing security problems, as armed groups continued to seek opportunities to expand their operations across the region.
“Let me be very honest with you, my brother, and your listeners. The God of heaven that we serve is a witness. Were it not for the various intervention of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria would have become a sorry state security-wise,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s geographical position made it particularly vulnerable to developments in the wider Sahel region.
The Sahel, a semi-arid belt stretching across Africa immediately south of the Sahara, has in recent years faced growing insecurity, with armed groups, insurgents and criminal networks operating across several countries.
The crisis has been particularly severe in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where extremist groups have carried out attacks against civilians and security forces.
Bwala said the presence of such groups in the wider region had increased pressure on Nigeria’s security system.
He referred to international terrorist organisations while discussing the security threat, saying groups such as ISIS and the Taliban were part of the wider movement of extremists in the region.
“I am sure that if you are familiar with reports that came out globally, it says that, and you can Google that, you will see it, the Sahel areas where you have these insurgents from all over the world, they are moving to the Sahel, terrorists, Taliban, ISIS, all of them, these Sahel areas are here in Africa,” Bwala said.
His comments come against the background of Nigeria’s long-running battle with terrorism and armed insurgency, particularly in the North-East.
The Boko Haram insurgency, which began more than a decade ago, has led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Other armed groups and criminal gangs have also expanded their activities in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions, where attacks, kidnappings and banditry have continued to pose serious security challenges.
The government has repeatedly said that its security forces are intensifying operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups.
Bwala said the Tinubu administration had responded to the security threat through stronger international partnerships and the deployment of Nigeria’s security agencies.
He argued that the scale of the threat made decisive action necessary, particularly as extremist groups continued to operate in countries close to Nigeria.
“Now, when you have this ISIS at our navel, if not because of the resoluteness of this government, Nigeria would have been overrun,” he said.
The presidential aide, however, acknowledged that insecurity remained a serious problem in some parts of the country.
He said incidents of attacks and other forms of insecurity continued to occur in some local government areas but argued that the government’s performance should also be assessed based on its counter-terrorism operations and the ability of security forces to prevent armed groups from taking control of larger territories.
According to him, the fact that government institutions continue to operate in areas that were previously vulnerable to attacks was an indication of some improvement in the security environment.
He maintained that the government had prevented the security situation from deteriorating to a point where terrorists could take control of significant parts of the country.
Nigeria’s security situation remains one of the major concerns facing the Federal Government.
The country is dealing with several forms of insecurity, including terrorism in the North-East, banditry and mass kidnapping in the North-West, communal violence in some North-Central communities and attacks by criminal groups in other parts of the country.
The security challenges have affected farming, trade, education and economic activities in several communities.
Thousands of farmers have been forced to abandon their farms in areas affected by attacks, raising concerns about food production and the rising cost of food.
Schools have also been affected by insecurity, with some institutions temporarily closed following attacks or threats of abduction.
Bwala said the Federal Government could not, however, be solely responsible for dealing with every security incident in the country.
He called on state and local governments to play a greater role in addressing threats within their areas.
According to him, governors must provide stronger support to security agencies and take responsibility for preventing and responding to local security problems.
He argued that the Federal Government could not be expected to respond directly and immediately to every security incident occurring in different parts of the country.
His call reflects the long-standing debate over the roles of the Federal Government, states and local governments in maintaining security.
Under Nigeria’s current security structure, the military and most major security agencies are controlled by the Federal Government, while state governments have limited direct control over conventional security forces.
Governors, however, serve as chief security officers of their respective states and are expected to work closely with security agencies to address threats.
Some governors have established or supported local security initiatives, including community-based security networks and other arrangements aimed at improving intelligence gathering and response.
The Federal Government has also continued to advocate closer cooperation among security agencies and other levels of government.
For Bwala, the regional nature of terrorism means that Nigeria must combine domestic efforts with international cooperation.
The movement of armed groups across national borders makes it difficult for any single country to address the problem without working with neighbouring states and international partners.
Nigeria has historically played a major role in regional security efforts through organisations such as the Economic Community of West African States and the Multinational Joint Task Force, which brings together countries affected by the Lake Chad Basin insurgency.
The country has also continued to seek military and intelligence cooperation with foreign partners.
While Bwala’s assessment presents the Tinubu administration’s security policies in a positive light, insecurity remains a major issue for Nigerians, with communities continuing to demand stronger protection and faster responses to attacks.
The government therefore faces the challenge of sustaining its military operations while addressing the causes that allow terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities to persist.