In recent times, especially since United States President Donald Trump classified Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, insecurity in Nigeria has spiked to an alarming rate, with mass kidnapping and terrorism making headlines daily. How can President Bola Tinubu be rated on how he is handling these security challenges? KINGSLEY ALUMONA brings the opinion of some Nigerians on this matter. Their view:
Mustapha Abdulrahman
I hail from Sokoto State, but the current crisis of insecurity has forced my family and me to make the painful decision to leave the state. The situation is dire. There is no security, which means agriculture and livestock are unsustainable, and our secondary schools have been shut down. Without these fundamental elements — security, sustenance, and education — our people are left with no hope for the future. Our children, sisters and brothers have no better future. I rate President Tinubu 40 per cent.
Idris Lawali
I would rate the president 80-100 per cent. The man is active. He does not give a chance. All that is happening, to apply the doctrine of what happened must happen, is happening while the administration is gallantly confronting it. Take it or not, the man is the captain of the ship.
Abdulazeez Rafindadi
President Tinubu’s handling of insecurity has shown commendable resolve and strategic direction. His administration has strengthened collaboration among security agencies, enhanced border control measures, and invested in modern equipment and intelligence-driven operations. The accelerated push to reclaim volatile areas, disrupt criminal networks, and improve military welfare reflects a leadership committed to restoring stability. While challenges remain, the renewed coordination, firmness, and policy consistency under Tinubu represent a significant step toward a safer and more secure Nigeria.
Chukwu Johnbosco
Ordinarily, this government may have probably just relaxed, be complacent, and allowed insecurity to continue to fester whilst doing little or nothing but for United States President Trump who raised vocal concerns, thus pushing them into subtle responsive action. Nonetheless, no matter what approach they are employing to fight insecurity — banditry, terrorism, kidnapping — proactive more than reactionary measures are the way forward. People living in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps should be able to go back home, rehabilitated, and encouraged to resume normal life. Businesses, farming and other economic activities should thrive again. Results short of these are cosmetic.
Ibrahim Ahman
President Tinubu has demonstrated his immense capacity to tackle the inherited wave of security challenges bedeviling our country through democratic and globally accepted means. It might not end today, just like the unfortunate case of Afghanistan. However, with the determination and support of all Nigerians, we will triumph over evil. The president has already conquered food insecurity — the prices of food items have drastically dropped. Give him time; he is doing just fine.
Oyin Pedro
President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges has received mixed reactions. He declared a nationwide security emergency, ordered mass recruitment of police and army personnel, and approved salary hikes for security agents. Some praise his commitment, while others criticise the measures as insufficient, pointing to ongoing violence and kidnappings. Tinubu’s administration has increased defence allocation and approved ranching to address herder-farmer clashes. However, concerns remain about implementation and addressing root causes like poverty and corruption. Opinions are divided, reflecting the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Nigeria’s security terrain today is a minefield shaped by ruthless non-state actors, wavering regional alliances, and global currents far beyond our borders. It is not a miracle cure. No leader has that luxury, but it is a deliberate recalibration. With a renewed moral commitment from all faith communities and citizens, the tide can turn. On balance, I rate President Tinubu’s performance a strong seven out of ten.
Ali Mamuda
No democratically elected president is happy with the danger and anxiety that terrorists and bandits subject Nigerians to, and President Bola Tinubu would not be an exception as an elected president. Certainly, the president’s notable achievements in handling the current security challenges are the directives of 24-hour military aircraft strikes. Persistent military aircraft strikes are a crucial component of a comprehensive counter-terrorism and counter-banditry strategy. Nevertheless, for the sustainable victory, air power must be liaised effectively with ground operations and broader non-kinetic measures.
Dada Bankole
President Tinubu is trying his best with maturity. I love his ideas. Nigeria is full of stubborn and unscrupulous people, even those whom the president trusted are informants to terrorists and bandits. He would need to fish out the cabals and sponsors who supply bandits with funds, food, and ammunition. It is now that we need to welcome whistleblowers.
Jones Oge
The best way to describe President Tinubu’s performance is “abysmal failure” because he has not risen up to the occasion as the commander-in-chief to take control of the situation to smother insurgency. The reaction of the government to the incessant attacks that border on kidnappings, killings, ransacking and torching of indigenous people’s communities, including the burning of their churches and other places of worship, and the destruction of farmlands, crops and other means of livelihood, has been at best epileptic. It is unbecoming of an elected government to wait for verbal abuse from the United States Donald Trump on the state of insecurity in the country before the government wakes up from their slumber.
Isaac Olawumi
The President Bola Tinubu government would be rated low, 20 per cent, in the tackling of insecurity in Nigeria. Terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and farmers and herders clashes have been worrisome events to Nigerians, as they have affected the social, religious, and economic livelihood of the people. People live in fear at home, in workplaces, worship centres, and in transit. This can be nipped in the bud when the government, through the military, employs modern equipment such as drones to capture bandit and terrorist camps and neutralise them. Sponsors of these acts should be fished out, no matter their social status, and face the law.
Tunde Williams
President Tinubu’s swift responses, noted in Rivers State’s Governor Fubara’s case, President Trump’s invasion plan and the sudden multiple bandit storms have been converted to a political strength. Now the north is ready for state security, livestock management bill, transglobal support against terrorism, a possible private ownership, etc., if all become fully actualised. The president has converted what was supposedly planned to bring him down into a stepping stone. So I would rate him 75 per cent, for now.
Anyanwu Chigozirim
I am not a fan of the Tinubu administration because I did not vote for him, but he is making genuine efforts in tackling insecurity. The major problem, however, is that the military has already been infiltrated. How do you recruit a terrorist into the army and label him ‘repentant’? This is the root of the issue. These terrorists have insiders within the military, giving them all the information they need to re-strategise. Until the Nigerian Army is cleaned up in a way that restores public confidence and encourages civilians to proudly join the force, we will keep going in circles. The Senate can ignite the kind of strong legislative support needed to fix this situation. We should not focus everything on the president alone. The man is trying, but he needs stronger backing. He needs the Senate to join forces with him, not just praise him, if we truly want progress.
Mukhtar El-Yaqub
President Tinubu has demonstrated a clear structural focus and commitment to overhauling the security architecture. He deserves credit for significantly increasing the defence budget, initiating massive recruitment drives, authorising the withdrawal of police from very important persons (VIPs) duties, and actively championing the crucial state police initiative. This intent to decentralise and resource the forces is a necessary first step.
However, on the ground, the reality remains dire. Despite these high-level moves, mass kidnappings and banditry are still highly prevalent and have spiked in some regions, showing a clear time lag between policy and impact. Widespread public fear and the visible crisis in areas like the North-West indicate that his approach is not yet translating into tangible security for the majority of Nigerians. The ultimate success will be judged by the sustained reduction in violence, not just the policies put on paper.
Chinedu Nweke
Truly, the president is making much effort on this aspect, but the positive result is still dwarfed. I do not know why, but could it be as a result of poor performance by the security forces or what? However, the president should not relent; rather, he should accelerate his efforts. So, much more intelligent efforts are needed. It cannot be over when it is not yet over.
Awowole Olawale
The recent decision to replace the service chiefs, coupled with a carefully calibrated diplomatic outreach to the US Defence Department — culminating in a joint commission — demonstrates a clear resolve to abandon failed strategies. This shift, alongside our military’s stepped-up operations against bandit groups, is symbolic. The resignation of the Defence Minister underscores President Tinubu’s capacity to confront escalating terror challenges head-on. These are simply leadership tenacity in the face of persistent challenges.
Babs Omisore
Whatever happens, whatever the ratings, Nigeria is greater than any individual or group of people. So, Nigeria will survive. Mr President inherited difficult challenges from the past leaders who deliberately or through bad advisers created unnecessary problems, especially the spread of insecurity. The advent of President Tinubu cannot do much. However, he should try to rejig the lost or weak security structure.
Steve Owaduge
President Bola Tinubu has made efforts to improve security through leadership changes and better coordination, with some progress in certain areas. However, many Nigerians still experience high levels of insecurity, showing that the results are not yet enough. Overall, his performance reflects effort but falls short of widespread public confidence.
Anselm Iholah
I would say the president has made considerable positive moves that are calming the security challenges. What is most important here is for the government to avoid further negligence and abandonment of the security units of Nigeria. Let us be positive.
Omonira-Johnson Olusegun
I would rate the president’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges at six out of ten. On the positive side, he has increased patrols in hotspots and leveraged technology for intelligence gathering, which has helped reduce some incidents. However, critics note that response times remain slow, resources are unevenly allocated, and coordination with other agencies is weak, leaving many communities still vulnerable. Overall, progress is modest but not yet sufficient. Continued reforms and better funding could improve the rating significantly in the future.
OluwaFemi J. Olagunju
The president has been able to work more on security, even though that is directly connected to US President Trump’s threats. In recent weeks, the president has been able to force security agencies to work more. He has been meeting with heads of security agencies and has even allegedly forced the defence minister to resign. He has also been able to secure the release of some kidnapped victims. He is not there yet, but it seems President Trump’s threats are working on President Tinubu. He has even stopped going to relax abroad, for now.
Leonard Echere
The president knows the immediate and remote causes of insecurity in Nigeria. He is one of the most experienced politicians of our time. All he needs is political capacity and the will to confront the current challenges. He should focus on using all military might. Our soldiers seem not to be doing enough at the moment. Nigeria has what it takes to defeat indulgences.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
