Bamidele Atoyebi, convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group, defended the current administration’s response to Nigeria’s security challenges and economic pressures during an interview with ARISE NEWS. He highlighted the government’s efforts to improve security through decentralization and increased funding for military and police training institutions.
Atoyebi pointed to the expansion and decentralization of key security training centers across multiple states as a sign of the administration’s commitment. He referenced recent moves that saw institutions like the Police Academy and Army Training Centre extended to regions such as Enugu, Ebonyi, Osun, and Ogun states. Further decentralization plans include extending the Nigerian Defence Academy’s presence to both southern and northern areas, including Kwara State.
Addressing criticisms about worsening insecurity, Atoyebi suggested that spikes in violence often align with electoral periods, implying a political dimension to security incidents. Despite public outcry and protests in various states demanding action on abductions and violence, he maintained the government’s proactive stance on security reform.
On the economic front, Atoyebi asserted that key policy shifts have stabilized Nigeria’s economy and enhanced its international reputation. He stressed the importance of removing fuel subsidies and allowing the naira’s exchange rate to float as necessary reforms. According to him, these moves align with long-standing economic advice and reflect a strategic approach to reducing inefficient subsidies that burden the national budget.
He argued that subsidies on consumption, foreign exchange, and other sectors had become economic liabilities. The removal of these subsidies, including the fuel subsidy on the first day of Tinubu’s presidency, was described as a critical reform outlined in the president’s manifesto.
By emphasizing decentralization in security and fiscal reforms, the administration seeks to deliver more localized control over safety and foster macroeconomic stability. However, public frustration on security issues remains evident, with protests reflecting ongoing challenges in certain regions.