Tinubu's Aide Critiques Media's Narrative on Insecurity

Bayo Onanuga, a special adviser to President Bola Tinubu, stated in an interview on Arise Television that the Nigerian media is fostering a false narrative about insecurity in the country. He argued that while there are real security challenges, they do not imply that Nigeria is entirely unsafe.

Onanuga criticized media reports for portraying insecurity as pervasive throughout Nigeria, claiming that many people undertake long road trips without incidents. He recounted conversations with government officials who travel long distances, contradicting claims that movement across the country has become impossible.

Onanuga also discussed data related to terrorism and fatalities in Nigeria from 2015 to 2026, defending government statistics that suggest a rise in terror-related deaths by 4-6% from 2015 to 2025. This contradicts President Tinubu's assertion of an 81% reduction in insecurity-related fatalities.

Onanuga emphasized the need to consider the credibility of alternative datasets and insisted that government data should not be dismissed outright.