Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is implementing far-reaching and coordinated measures to combat terrorism across the country, combining military operations with socio-economic reforms and regional diplomacy.
Okay News reports that Alake made the statement during a joint press conference in Abuja hosted by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
The minister emphasized that the current administration inherited the problem of insecurity from previous governments but has intensified efforts to bring it under control.
“The insecurity in Nigeria did not start under President Tinubu or two years ago,” Alake said. “From the actions taken so far—if such had been done ten years ago—we probably would not be where we are today.”
According to him, the government’s recent adjustments to the nation’s security structure, including changes in the leadership of security agencies in 2023 and again recently, are deliberate efforts to “reinvigorate and re-inject new enthusiasm and impetus into the fight against insecurity.”
“These are policies and actions emanating from deep, exhaustive planning and strategising, and they are already yielding results,” Alake explained. “When you look at the last ten years and do a comparative analysis with the last two years, you will notice the tremendous efforts that this government has put in place to stem the tide of insecurity.”
He further dismissed claims that terrorist attacks in Nigeria were religiously motivated, stressing that the violence was largely driven by political and economic interests.
“Everyone knows that there is no deliberate targeting of any religion or persecution,” the minister said. “Sometimes, when these terrorists go to attack, they don’t do it based on religion; rather, it is based on either economic or political reasons. Ironically, some of those communities are inhabited by people of a particular religion, and to use the faith of the inhabitants to explain the motive of the attack is very wrong. Such do not reflect the reality on the ground.”
Alake urged the media to act responsibly and avoid spreading misleading narratives that could fuel division or misinformation. Instead, he called on journalists to highlight the success stories of the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies who are “working tirelessly, often at great personal risk,” to secure the nation.
He said, “The media must help shape national perception positively. We should amplify the victories being recorded by our security forces rather than dwell on isolated tragedies.”
The minister reiterated that President Tinubu’s security policies are built on long-term planning, coordination among security agencies, and investment in local intelligence and community-based interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of extremism.
Nigeria has faced more than a decade of violent extremism, including attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast, as well as banditry and kidnapping across central and northwestern regions.
Alake’s remarks come as part of the government’s broader effort to reassure citizens and international partners that Nigeria remains committed to defeating terrorism and restoring national stability.
