President Bola Tinubu’s administration says it is taking bold and comprehensive steps to tackle terrorism in Nigeria through a mix of military operations, social reforms, and diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries.
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Deji Alake, said this during a joint news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, hosted by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Alake noted that insecurity in Nigeria did not begin under President Tinubu’s government or even in the last two years, stressing that the administration’s current approach is a result of deliberate planning and long-term strategy.
“From the actions taken so far — if such measures had been implemented ten years ago, we probably wouldn’t be in this situation today,” he said.
According to him, the government has consistently reviewed and reorganised the leadership of the nation’s security agencies to inject fresh energy into the fight against terrorism.
“The change of service chiefs in 2023, and again just a few days ago, are all aimed at reinvigorating our security structure and boosting morale among the forces,” Alake explained.
He added that these reforms were not random decisions but the product of “deep, exhaustive planning and strategising,” and that they were already beginning to yield positive results.
“When you compare the last ten years to the last two years, it’s clear how much effort this government has made to curb insecurity,” he said.
Alake also dismissed claims that recent attacks across the country were targeted at any particular religion, insisting that terrorists were motivated more by economic and political interests than by faith.
“Sometimes, when these criminals strike, they do so for reasons unrelated to religion. It just happens that some of the affected communities are dominated by people of a particular faith. To interpret that as religious persecution is wrong,” he stated.
He appealed to the media to avoid amplifying misleading narratives about the country’s security situation and instead highlight the progress being made by the armed forces.
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“The media should focus more on reporting the successes recorded by our troops and not only on the unfortunate incidents,” Alake said.
He emphasised that the Tinubu administration remains committed to restoring peace across the country and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of religion or location, feels safe and protected.
