Former APC national chairman and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, says President Bola Tinubu is making measurable progress in tackling the country’s security challenges, even though the problem is far from over.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Oshiomhole argued that the security landscape has improved when compared to conditions before the APC took power in 2015.
He recalled a period when Boko Haram controlled dozens of local government areas and forced the postponement of national elections, insisting that the current situation is not as dire.
Oshiomhole criticised what he described as lenient sentencing by some judges handling terrorism cases. He questioned why offenders who, by law, should face the death penalty are receiving 20-year jail terms, saying such judicial discretion contradicts the provisions passed by the National Assembly.
According to him, only the President has the constitutional authority to grant clemency, not trial judges, adding that the government must closely examine such cases to ensure justice aligns with the law.
The senator credited recent gains in the fight against insecurity to improved intelligence gathering and stronger coordination by the Office of the National Security Adviser. He said these efforts have contributed significantly to successes achieved by security agencies.
Oshiomhole further noted that President Tinubu has shown commitment through the appointment of new service chiefs and directives aimed at strengthening the police force. He said the President had instructed the Inspector General of Police to recruit an additional 30,000 officers to restore proper policing across communities and reduce reliance on the military for internal security duties.
He added that, following the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, the Senate advised the President to initiate the recruitment of 100,000 more personnel into the armed forces to respond adequately to rising threats.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s population growth has outpaced the capacity of its security institutions, Oshiomhole stressed that solutions cannot be immediate.
He, however, insisted that the key indicators—government action, arrests, convictions, and policy direction—show that the Tinubu administration is actively working to restore security nationwide.
