Insecurity: Nigeria Is Not Under Siege — Presidential Aide Onanuga

THE Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised sections of the Nigerian media for what he described as exaggerated reporting of insecurity, saying the coverage often creates the impression that the entire country is unsafe.

Speaking on Arise Television, Onanuga acknowledged the existence of security challenges, including kidnappings and attacks, but insisted that Nigeria is not under siege. According to him, many Nigerians continue to travel across the country without experiencing security incidents.

He noted that several reported attacks occur at night, despite repeated warnings from security agencies advising against nighttime travel. Onanuga also cited accounts of individuals who have successfully undertaken long-distance road trips as evidence that movement across the country remains possible.

The presidential aide made the remarks while responding to data on terror-related fatalities between 2015 and 2025. The figures, reportedly compiled by independent security and conflict-monitoring organisations, suggested a rise in fatalities during the period, contradicting President Tinubu’s recent claim that insecurity-related deaths had dropped significantly.

Defending the government’s position, Onanuga said the Presidency relies on statistics provided by the Office of the National Security Adviser and argued that alternative datasets should not automatically be regarded as more accurate than official government figures.