Insecurity: FG Reacts As UK Tags Northern States Security Risk

FG: “Security Situation Improving Steadily”

Reacting to the development, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told The Punch on Sunday that the government was aware of security challenges in certain parts of the country but was “making concerted efforts to address them.”

Idris stated that President Bola Tinubu had recently restructured the country’s security architecture, boosted defence funding, and approved the acquisition of advanced surveillance and intelligence equipment.

“Our security challenges will soon be a thing of the past,” the minister said.
“We want to give tacit assurances that we are gradually improving security in our cities and communities. All foreign nationals in Nigeria are guaranteed their safety as the government implements more effective security measures.”

Gombe Government Rejects UK Classification

The Gombe State Government has faulted the UK’s inclusion of the state in the “unsafe” category, describing it as “unfounded and unfair.”

Speaking on Sunday, Ismaila Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House Gombe, said the state remained one of the most peaceful in Nigeria.

“We are surprised and disappointed by this classification of our dear state among the unsafe states,” Misilli said.
“Gombe State has consistently been rated by credible organisations and security agencies as one of the most peaceful and stable states in Nigeria.”

He added that the state had recorded no incidents of insurgency, banditry, communal clashes, or major security threats in recent years, questioning the criteria used in the UK’s assessment.

“We really wonder what indices were used to arrive at this conclusion by the UK government,” he added, urging Nigerians and international partners to disregard the advisory as it did not reflect the current reality.

Kano Also Disagrees

Similarly, the Kano State Government said the travel advisory did not represent the state’s present security situation.

Mustapha Muhammad, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, acknowledged that such advisories were routine but emphasised that Kano had intensified security operations in collaboration with the military and other agencies.

“Our security forces have been strategically deployed, especially in border areas where bandits attempt to cross from Katsina,” he said.
“The state government continues to prioritise public safety, and our security agencies are working round the clock to keep Kano peaceful.”

Background

The UK government periodically updates its travel advisories on Nigeria based on security intelligence and field assessments. The FCDO’s latest update mirrors similar advisories from the United States Department of State, which also recently cited terrorism, armed robbery, and civil unrest in some regions.

However, Nigerian authorities maintain that ongoing counterterrorism operations in the North-East and intensified policing efforts in other regions have led to steady improvements in the nation’s security outlook.