Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has blamed what he described as politically motivated security appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Ibe criticised the appointment of former state governors as Minister of Defence and Minister of State for Defence, arguing that their lack of military or security background has weakened the country’s response to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes. According to him, the current security challenges facing Nigeria require experienced professionals with deep understanding of military operations, intelligence gathering and counter-insurgency strategies.
He said insecurity in many parts of the country, particularly in the North, has continued to claim lives, displace communities and disrupt farming and economic activities, stressing that leadership of the defence sector should be based strictly on competence rather than political loyalty.
The Atiku aide also noted that the former vice president has repeatedly called for comprehensive security sector reforms, including the appointment of technocrats to critical positions, improved intelligence coordination among security agencies and a more decentralised security structure to enable quicker responses at the local level.
Ibe urged the Tinubu administration to urgently review its approach to security governance, warning that failure to prioritise expertise over politics could further embolden criminal networks and prolong the nation’s security crisis.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had yet to officially respond to the remarks.