Tinubu’s Security Promises: A Look at the Reality Seven Months In
Seven months into President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the brutal killing of over a hundred people in Plateau State has raised concerns about the president’s security promises. The attacks targeted approximately 20 communities in Plateau, leaving a trail of devastation.
This incident occurred shortly after the Tundun Biri bombing, where the Nigerian Army’s actions led to over 126 civilian deaths. In light of these events, DAILY POST reviewed President Tinubu’s campaign promises outlined in his manifesto, the Renewed Hope Agenda.
One of President Tinubu’s initial actions was to restructure the entities overseeing the military sector. He appointed civilians Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawalle as Ministers of Defence and Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser. Despite these efforts, the killings have persisted. According to data from the Council on Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), non-state actors killed 587 people within the first 45 days of Tinubu’s presidency.
Furthermore, a resurfaced tweet from 2014 showed Tinubu criticizing the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s handling of security issues, adding to the scrutiny of his current efforts.
President Tinubu’s campaign in Jos, the Plateau State capital, highlighted his commitment to prioritizing the eradication of terrorism and violent crimes. However, the reality of ongoing violence challenges these promises.
In his manifesto, Tinubu pledged to establish state police tailored to each state’s needs. He promised to collaborate with state governments and the National Assembly to enact measures for community security. Despite this, there has been no progress in forwarding an executive bill on State or Community Police to the National Assembly.
Another promise was to employ intelligence-driven security measures to prevent crime. However, the aftermath of the Tudun Biri bombing highlighted the failure to gather adequate intelligence for security operations.
The creation of “Anti-terror battalions” with special forces units was also pledged, but there has been no visible progress on this front. Additionally, the pledge to transfer VIP security duties from the police to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) remains unfulfilled.
As the Tinubu administration grapples with security challenges, the gap between promises and reality raises concerns about the effectiveness of current strategies. The need for actionable steps to address these issues becomes increasingly urgent.
Source: Daily Post
