Political scientist Obafemi George has argued that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is confronting a more complex security environment than previous governments while also recording significant successes in tackling insecurity.
Speaking on ARISE Television on Friday, George said many Nigerians fail to appreciate the evolving nature of security threats facing the country, noting that the challenge has expanded beyond the Boko Haram insurgency into a broader international security problem.
According to him, the current administration is dealing with threats that are increasingly linked to global terrorist networks, making the security landscape far more complicated than in previous years.
“It has recorded more successes in combating insecurity than previous administrations. What people should understand is the changing nature of the threat.
Prior to 2022, the situation was not only about Boko Haram but has since evolved into a broader international security challenge,” George said.
He cited the reported killing of a high-profile terrorist leader in Mali as evidence of the growing regional and international dimensions of insecurity in West Africa.
“For instance, last month, a high-profile terrorist figure linked to global networks was reportedly killed in Mali, said to be number two globally and described as one of the most active terrorists, which shows the scale of what the government is dealing with,” he added.
George maintained that despite the challenges, Nigerian security forces have continued to record successes, including the rescue of kidnapped children and other vulnerable victims.
The political analyst also defended President Tinubu’s overall performance, arguing that the administration has made progress across key sectors used to assess governance.
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“When you vote a president into office, there are certain key performance indicators, such as the economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security. In my view, President Tinubu ticks all the boxes in these key areas,” he said.
George urged Nigerians to evaluate the administration’s performance through data and global comparisons rather than expectations of instant transformation.
“We can begin to assess his performance not only through data but also through comparative analysis with countries around the world.
I often ask people to name a modern country that transitioned from poverty to prosperity in just 36 months,” he stated.
Drawing a comparison with China’s economic rise, George noted that meaningful national transformation requires patience, consistency, and long-term reforms.
“Take China, for example, it lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, but that transformation took decades, roughly 40 years of consistent policies and reforms,” he said.
His remarks come amid ongoing national debate over the Tinubu administration’s handling of security and economic challenges, with supporters highlighting improvements in key indicators while critics argue that many Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of government policies.