Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and formerly Senate Leader and Chief Whip, spoke candidly in an interview with The Nigerian Tribune about Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
Drawing on his experience as former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Ndume addressed the question of whether Nigeria can depend solely on its own military capacity without external assistance. He expressed doubts about the adequacy of current efforts, especially as security threats escalate across the country.
On the government’s management of citizen security and welfare, Ndume argued that the administration has yet to place these concerns at the level of urgency they demand. If he were President, he said, his first priority would be restoring security and improving citizens’ welfare through close collaboration with all state governors—many of whom, he noted, now openly acknowledge the threats confronting their states.
He cited warnings from organizations like the World Food Programme, which has projected that millions of Nigerians could face acute hunger this year due to criminal disruptions to farming activities. To avert this, Ndume urged the government to temporarily divert funds—even pausing certain discretionary expenditures—so that national security and citizen welfare can be addressed decisively.
Continuing, he stressed:
“If security is restored, the president will not even need to campaign. Right now, insecurity affects about 30 states—North, West, and South-East. Only the South-West and parts of the South-South enjoy relative peace.”
He added a pointed criticism directed at presidential advisers:
“For those telling the President otherwise, I see them as his enemies. If you cannot tell the Commander-in-Chief the truth and you keep blaming unnamed people, that’s unfortunate.”
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