Nigeria would’ve been overrun by terrorists without Tinubu — Bwala

By Sunday Ameh

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has claimed that Nigeria would have been overrun by terrorists without the interventions of the Tinubu administration.

Bwala made the claim on Thursday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

He said the spread of terrorist groups across the Sahel had compounded Nigeria’s existing security challenges, particularly in the North-West and North-East.

“Were it not for the various intervention of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria would have become a sorry state security-wise,” Bwala said.

He argued that the scale of the threat had forced the government to combine military operations with international partnerships, particularly with the United States.

“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.

Bwala also described kidnapping and other criminal activities as part of a “crisis economy,” where criminals commit crimes for financial rewards.

He said the Tinubu administration inherited a situation where security personnel were overstretched, while many were deployed to protect private individuals instead of being available for broader security operations.

According to him, the government has made progress in restoring state authority in several areas, although he acknowledged that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping remain major challenges.

Bwala also defended Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States, saying joint efforts had strengthened the country’s ability to conduct counter-terrorism operations.

He urged state governors to play a greater role in tackling insecurity and supported the proposed state police initiative as a way of strengthening security at the grassroots.

The presidential aide maintained that while the security situation had improved in some areas, sustained efforts were still required to completely address the country’s insecurity challenges.