The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday said the rising insecurity in the country was not due to a lack of political will from President Bola Tinubu.
He argued that the President had provided the necessary resources and leadership needed to address security challenges across the country.
Oshiomhole made the remarks in Abuja at the public presentation of a book authored by the Federal Capital Territory Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Olusola Odumosu.
He dismissed claims that the executive arm of government had failed to prioritise security, pointing to financial commitments and administrative decisions as evidence of political resolve.
“The Commander-in-Chief has repeatedly given orders to ensure the country is safe. President Bola Tinubu has provided more funds, including supplementary budgets approved by the National Assembly. What more political will do you need?” he said.
Oshiomhole noted that the President had declared a state of emergency and replaced former security chiefs as part of efforts to strengthen national security.
“There is no question that there is political will. The President has it in abundance,” he added.
However, the senator raised concerns about the implementation of directives, questioning whether those responsible for carrying out orders at operational levels had the equipment, morale and support required to do so.
He also suggested a review of the name of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, arguing that the term “civil” appears inconsistent with its armed operational responsibilities.
Oshiomhole stressed the importance of coordination among security agencies, saying effective collaboration remains critical to tackling insecurity.
Also speaking, the author of the book, Commandant Olusola Odumosu, called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, saying insecurity requires a united front.
Odumosu identified unhealthy rivalry among security agencies as a major obstacle to effective national security responses.
He said no agency has a monopoly of knowledge or strategy and stressed the need for all security agencies to work together in combating criminality, banditry and kidnapping.
Amid rising insecurity across the country, critics have continued to attribute the persistence of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and oil theft to a perceived lack of political will. Oshiomhole, however, disagreed with such arguments.
