Coordinated Security Efforts Making Nigeria Safer Under Tinubu’s Administration – NSA Ribadu

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has affirmed that Nigeria is notably safer today than it was two years ago, attributing the improvement to the strategic reforms and unified security approach introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Ribadu made the assertion during a two-day high-level interactive session convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna. Addressing a gathering of Northern leaders, policymakers, and security stakeholders, the NSA highlighted a significant drop in Boko Haram attacks, banditry, and communal violence across northern Nigeria since the change in government.

Presenting a comparative overview, Ribadu recalled that Kaduna State alone witnessed 1,192 killings and more than 3,348 kidnappings under the previous administration, while over 5,000 lives were lost in Benue State due to violent clashes and insurgent attacks within the same period. However, he noted that the current administration’s deliberate shift toward inter-agency collaboration, intelligence-led operations, and kinetic interventions has reversed the tide of insecurity in many hotspots.

According to Ribadu, military operations in the North-West have so far led to the rescue of 11,259 hostages as of May 2025, while several notorious bandit commanders and their networks have been dismantled in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina states.

He also commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for deploying a non-kinetic, dialogue-driven strategy to de-escalate tensions in flashpoints such as Southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari. Describing the approach as “commendable and impactful,” Ribadu emphasized the importance of blending hard and soft power in tackling complex security challenges.

The event, attended by prominent figures including Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, former governors, ministers, and top security officials, was designed to assess the socio-economic and security impact of the Tinubu administration on Northern Nigeria. It also served as a forum for advancing policy ideas tailored to the region’s development.

In his final remarks, the NSA stated, “The progress we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the result of a disciplined, coherent, and people-centered security framework. Nigeria is undoubtedly safer now than it was two years ago, and we must work collectively to sustain and consolidate these gains.”

The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation noted that the interactive session was a timely stocktaking exercise, providing a litmus test for federal responsiveness to the security and development concerns of Northern Nigeria.

As the nation continues to navigate complex security dynamics, the message from the NSA was clear: with consistent strategy, collaboration, and leadership commitment, lasting peace and stability are within reach.