The Director-general of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Dr Ayo Omotayo has assured Nigerians that security agencies are actively tackling insecurity, expressing confidence that recent measures introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will soon deliver visible results across the country.
He said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, while discussing the recent abduction of school children and teachers in Oyo state, Nigeria.
“Concerning the rescue of the children who were abducted, I would just plead that we give the security operatives some more time. This is a very, very critical matter. Security operatives are not sleeping; they are working out the best solution to get these children out without harm. I have confidence in the manner in which they are going about this, and I want to assure everyone that they will get those children out safely.
“With the new measures that Mr. President has taken—you’re aware that he has appointed a retired General and former head of Homeland Security—I’m sure he is putting things in place. Very soon, the issue of insecurity will be addressed,” he assured.
Speaking on recent allegations made by Sunday Igboho, where he claimed that he knew the politicians involved in the recent rampage of kidnappings across the country, and that he would name them, Omotayo said claims linking politicians to insecurity must be backed with credible evidence, urging caution amid heightened public emotions.
“This is not the first time an individual has claimed to know who is doing something wrong concerning the country. There might be some truth to it, but there has to be evidence. We know Sunday Igboho is a very outspoken person, and he has Yoruba interests at heart. But when he says he knows those politicians, we have to be very careful because people are highly emotional right now. We must be cautious when making statements,” he cautioned.
The seasoned policy expert and development strategist also defended President Tinubu’s deployment of 1,000 forest guards, dismissing claims that the move was a knee-jerk reaction. He argued that the decision was likely based on expert security advice, while stressing that governors remain the first chief security officers of their states before matters are escalated to the presidency.
“We have to avoid knee-jerk approaches, but Mr. President must be seen to be doing something. He doesn’t just come up and arbitrarily say, ‘I’m putting 1,000 guards out there.’ He must have been advised that this is the specific number needed for that particular situation.
“Don’t forget that the chief security officer of any state, in the first instance, is the governor. It is only when the governor cannot handle the situation that it is escalated to the presidency. You will notice that Mr. President has been very careful with his statements because we must avoid politicizing a very bad situation,” he said.
On the growing calls for state policing, Dr. Omotayo acknowledged the urgency of decentralising security operations, noting that President Tinubu has already expressed support for the initiative.
“Mr. President saw that months back, and he has already indicated his wish to implement state policing.”
He explained that establishing state police requires careful planning and institutional structures, adding that the Inspector General of Police, with support from NIPSS, is already working on a framework to ensure a smooth transition toward a multi-layered policing system.
“But it is a process. We have been on this topic for some time. If you’re going to establish state police, things have to be put in place properly, and I want to plead with Nigerians to be a bit patient. The Inspector General of Police is taking steps, and NIPSS is supporting what he is trying to do,” Omotayo stated.
Responding to concerns over Nigeria’s security spending, the NIPSS Director-general argued that the country’s security budget remains inadequate when compared with global standards, stressing that effective security management is costly.
“People always claim we have a huge security budget. If you compare what other countries spend on security to what we do, ours is still just a drop in the ocean. Security is expensive. At this stage of our country’s development, we need to put more security infrastructure in place.”
Emphasising the need for a balanced security strategy, Dr. Omotayo warned against focusing funding solely on the military while neglecting the Nigerian Police Force.
“On military spending, let me say one thing: we do not face external threats; we face internal threats. If you are going to bring the military into internal security, you must have a fusion of what the Nigerian military can do and what the police can do. If you give all the money to the military and neglect the Nigerian Police, there is going to be a problem,” he warned.
Addressing concerns over how quickly Nigerians can expect visible security improvements, Dr. Omotayo described security reform as a gradual process that requires careful implementation and continuous evaluation. He expressed confidence that ongoing measures would eventually yield results, while urging citizens to remain patient as the government strengthens the country’s security architecture.
“We must recognize that this is a process. We were somewhere before, and if you want to move from point A to point B, you have to put measures in place and allow them time to work. As the process unfolds, you evaluate what is working and what is not. I am confident we will get there; we just need to be very patient,” he said.
On the debate over negotiating with abductors, the strategy expert stressed that the immediate priority should be the safe rescue of the kidnapped children and teachers.
“My position is that you have to play based on the cards you hold right now. We have a large number of children and teachers held captive by abductors. We want them out alive. Given that security operatives are working out procedures to extricate these children safely from the hands of their captors, that must be our primary focus. The broader strategy is the process Mr. President has started with Homeland Security—let us see how that works,” he underscored.
Speaking on the reports of American involvement in Nigeria’s security operations, Dr. Omotayo said their presence is largely advisory and focused on training rather than direct combat. He explained that the aim is to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian security forces, with the expectation that improved training and preparedness will enhance the country’s ability to respond to insecurity over time.
“The Americans are Americans—they are not Nigerians. They won’t know the terrain as well as Nigerians do. They are acting as advisors. They are here as advisors; they are not here to fight terrorists for us. They are likely training us on how to handle these situations. I believe that with time, the reasons for their involvement will manifest when our military and police are better equipped to deter terrorists from abducting children,” he explained.
On whether the federal government should concede to the demands of the abductors of the Oyo students and teachers, Omotayo said it should not do so in the manner requested by the kidnappers.
“I do not think the federal government should accede to their demands in the manner they want it,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the abducted children would be rescued safely and urged the authorities to focus on securing their release above all else.
“I have confidence that those children will eventually be brought home safely.”
Favour Odima
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