Ex-minister warns Nigeria ‘normalising terror’ under Tinubu

Ini Billie, Uyo

Former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of defence ministers, saying they lack the experience needed to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Essien, a former member of the House of Representatives, said the country’s security challenges require leaders with “strategic insight, operational competence, and deep knowledge of security matters.”

In a statement issued on Monday in Uyo, he warned that Nigeria cannot effectively combat terrorism when elements of its security architecture appear compromised. He expressed concern over allegations that some officials may have sympathies for terrorist groups or maintain questionable links with them.

He condemned the escalating violence across the country, saying recent coordinated attacks show terrorism has reached an intolerable level under President Tinubu’s administration.

“The pattern of attacks has been consistent, coordinated, and increasingly brutal. Schools are shutting down, families are afraid to send their children out, farmers have abandoned their fields, and worshippers no longer feel safe in their sanctuaries. Nigeria is dangerously close to normalising terror,” he said.

Essien accused the Federal Government of lacking the urgency and clarity required to confront the crisis, noting that President Tinubu—once a vocal critic of former President Goodluck Jonathan on insecurity—has failed to demonstrate the leadership he promised.

He also faulted the appointment of defence ministers without core security expertise, stressing that “defence is not a political reward; it is the backbone of national survival.”

Essien urged the government to stop making excuses and confront the political, economic, religious, and social roots of terrorism. He warned against allowing foreign interests to influence domestic security decisions, saying Nigerian lives must come first.

He called for a comprehensive national security strategy that prioritises intelligence gathering, strengthens community-based security networks, and ensures the armed forces are properly equipped, motivated, and led by competent professionals.

According to him, confronting internal collaborators who fund or protect terrorists is equally essential. “Security should never be sacrificed for political convenience,” he said.

Essien urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, the media, and other stakeholders to join in demanding a full restoration of order within the country’s security system.