Senator Adams Oshiomhole has defended President Bola Tinubu against criticisms that his administration lacks the political will to address insecurity, insisting that the President has demonstrated commitment through funding, policy decisions and security sector reforms.

The senator, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, spoke on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book authored by the Federal Capital Territory Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Olusola Odumosu.

Responding to claims that the Federal Government had not shown sufficient resolve in tackling banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats, Oshiomhole argued that President Tinubu had consistently provided leadership and resources to support security operations.

“What is the difficult thing in political will? The commander-in-chief give the order: Go and ensure that the country is safe. As President Bola Tinubu has done repeatedly.

“I am putting my mouth where I am putting resources and he has prepared more money, even supplementary budget at the National Assembly, approved. What more political will do you need?” he said.

The former Edo State governor cited the declaration of a state of emergency and the replacement of former security chiefs as evidence of the President’s determination to improve the nation’s security architecture.

“The Commander-in-Chief decided to declare State of Emergency and even told the armed forces no more excuse. He even replaced the former security chiefs with these ones. To sack chiefs in a village you know the challenges, not to talk of sacking security chiefs. There is no question that there is no political will,” Oshiomhole said.

He maintained that security should not be politicised, urging political actors across party lines to unite in support of efforts to combat criminality and protect lives and property.

“So I think all of us as a people, particularly those who are in politics, whether they are in the opposition, we need to understand that when it comes to security, there is one Nigeria. There is no APC, no PDP, or whatever,” he added.

While defending the President, Oshiomhole expressed concern about whether security directives issued at the highest levels are being effectively implemented on the ground.

He questioned whether frontline personnel possess the equipment, motivation, welfare support and operational capacity needed to execute orders from their superiors.

“But between the commander and the other guy in the battlefield, I think it’s where we probably can benefit from relations, how the system goes, because the system works on a command basis,” he said.

The senator also suggested that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps may need a review of its name, arguing that the term “civil” does not reflect the increasingly armed and operational nature of the agency’s responsibilities.

“Because the concept of ‘civil’ means do not bear firearms. So if you bear firearms to deal with very deadly criminals who are doing illegal oil pumping or destroying public property, which you are tasked to protect, can you preach while they carry weapons?” he queried.

He argued that security personnel confronting heavily armed criminals should not be disadvantaged in terms of equipment and firepower.

Oshiomhole further stressed the need for greater collaboration among security agencies, saying effective coordination remains vital to addressing the country’s security challenges.

“When I see service chiefs holding meetings and I don’t see the CG of NSCDC, I am like something is missing,” he said.

Earlier, the author of the book and FCT NSCDC Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, describing inter-agency rivalry as a major obstacle to effective national security responses.

Odumosu said the complex nature of contemporary security threats requires a unified approach rather than isolated efforts by individual agencies.

“There is need for a united front between security agencies because the challenges are beyond what one agency or individual can do,” he said.

“No one has a monopoly of wisdom or knowledge or strategy. So there is need for us to come together and wage war against criminality, against insecurity, against banditry, against kidnapping with a common front.”

He lamented what he described as unhealthy rivalry among security agencies, noting that overlapping mandates should not hinder collective efforts to maintain peace and public order.

Odumosu urged all security institutions to embrace collaboration and shared objectives in confronting insecurity, stressing that safeguarding Nigeria remains a collective responsibility.

The remarks come amid growing public concern over persistent security challenges across the country, with critics attributing the continued prevalence of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and oil theft to inadequate government action. Oshiomhole, however, insisted that the issue is not a lack of political will but ensuring that policies and directives are effectively translated into action at all operational levels.