Addressing Insecurity in Nigeria
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has recently made statements regarding the current state of insecurity in Nigeria. According to Bwala, the situation is not worsening, despite recent incidents that have raised concerns across the country.
Nigeria has experienced a resurgence of terrorist activities, including the abduction of school children in Niger and Kebbi States, attacks on religious institutions, and other violent events that have impacted communities nationwide. On Wednesday, suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists abducted over 100 women and children in an attack on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. During this assault, the chief imam of the town, several community elders, and soldiers were killed. The attack occurred shortly after Muslims broke their fast on what was described as an ill-fated day.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera’s Head to Head with Mehdi Hassan at Conway Hall in London, Bwala emphasized that the Nigerian government is making every effort to manage the situation. He pointed out that during the first two years of the President’s administration, Nigeria experienced significant peace.
“I acknowledge the fact that we have insecurity in Nigeria, and until the hoax narrative of the ‘Christians genocide,’ we began to see back-to-back attacks in the country. For the first two years of the present administration, we experienced substantial peace in Nigeria.”
Bwala also noted that no country is completely free from insecurity. He used an example from London, stating that there are areas where one cannot go in the evening.
Global Cooperation Against Terrorism
Regarding the renewed terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, Bwala stated that Nigeria is working with different countries to address the issue of insecurity. He mentioned the bilateral agreement reached with Turkey and cooperation with the United States and other nations.
“That is one of the reasons the President travelled to Turkey, where we reached a bilateral agreement to deal with insecurity. That is also why we are cooperating with the United States of America and other countries of the world. The reason is that, since 9/11, terrorism has been a global phenomenon, and every country is involved in it.”
Bwala insisted that he could not confirm that the situation is getting worse. “As a government, we are working day and night to deal with the situation. I don’t agree to the fact that it (insecurity) is getting worse,” he said.
Media Perception and Government Efforts
Bwala criticized Western media for portraying Nigeria and Africa negatively. Using a glass of water as an illustration, he explained that while Western media might see it as half empty, Nigerians would view it as half full.
“Before the President took office, we knew the situation in Nigeria. When he decided to take bold steps to place the country on a better trajectory, we were well aware of the fact that it was going to incense lots of people.”
He highlighted the government’s efforts to combat terrorism, including the arrest of Boko Haram and Lakurawa leaders six months before the US President Donald Trump’s statement on insecurity and the redesignation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern.
“Six months before that, we arrested leaders of Boko Haram and Lakurawa, and prior to that, we eliminated a number of terrorists. The US State Department commended Nigeria for that. The US Embassy recognized these efforts even before Trump’s statement. We declared national emergency on insecurity six months before Donald Trump’s statement. That was around April or May 2025.”
Kidnapping Crisis and Government Response
When asked about the increasing number of kidnappings in the country, Bwala admitted that the situation has become a crime economy.
“I acknowledge that insecurity related to kidnappings has become a crisis economy, but much more than that, I know of our government’s efforts in dealing with that insecurity. If one understands Nigeria’s geography and the nature of insecurity, one will understand that we are confronting a complex, hydra-headed problem.”
Regarding the kidnapping of children, the government has implemented the Safe Schools Initiative, relocating students from remote, insecure areas to state capitals so they can access education safely.
