Nigeria Out of ‘Danger Zone’ on Security, Says Presidential Aide

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, has said Nigeria has made progress in tackling insecurity and is no longer in what he described as the “jeopardy zone.”

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Dare maintained that while challenges remain, security conditions have improved compared to previous years.

“We have seen an improvement in the issue of security; I think we have left the jeopardy zone,” he said.

Dare recalled that during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency and the Sambisa crisis years ago, the entire nation was under a “heavy insecurity cloud.”

He urged Nigerians to assess progress in context:

“If you back up five, six years, even to the Jonathan era, you will see the difference. Our institutions are stronger today, and the government has responded more swiftly to flashpoints.”

However, the presidential aide acknowledged reports from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) indicating spikes in killings and human rights violations, particularly against children, vigilantes, and the elderly.

“The issue of security, there’s no silver bullet. Progressively, that will be addressed. Human rights abuses will occur, but what matters is the response of the judiciary and security institutions,” he noted.

He also highlighted the persistence of crime despite deterrents:

“Despite laws, punishments, and a penal code, people still commit crimes. So our interrogation should stay with the security agencies, but we must also look at the root causes, poverty, unemployment, and communal clashes.”

Analysts on the programme, however, challenged his claims, citing NHRC data showing a month-on-month increase of nearly 10 percent in reported abuses.

They questioned whether the government’s assurances align with the daily experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

Punch