The Nigerian government has said the security situation in the country way better than what was obtainable in 2015 when the Muhammadu Buhari administration assumed office.
The country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed stated this on Monday at a briefing in the nation’s capital, Abuja, and noted that while Nigeria is currently facing security challenges, the current situation is better than what the administration met on ground in 2015, where bombings and suicide bombings, by Boko Haram insurgents were taking place ‘in at least 12 states’ of the country.
“I have no hesitation in saying yes that the security situation in the country is better than we met it in 2015,” Mohammed said.
“Nigeria today is facing security challenges but it is by far better than what we met. What do I mean? Prior to 2015, bombings, suicide bombings, by Boko Haram were taking place in at least 12 states of the Federation. They were in Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe. Not even Abuja was spared.
“And if you look at the number of lives that were lost before then and today, there is no doubt that yes we have challenges but we are much better than it was,” the minister said.
On the ongoing tension in the southwestern region of the country, Mohammed said the military and political leaders are addressing security challenges in the region, pleading with Nigerians of different ethnic groups to “lower the temperature”.
“We have challenges in the Southwest, but I can assure you it is being taken very good care of. Both military and political leaders are on top of the matter.
“I think we should please lower the temperature and we should stop politicizing security matters. We should stop reading ethnicity or religion to purely security issues, and as I speak now, efforts are being made to contain these issues and other issues,” Mohammed said.
By Abel Ejikeme
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