RismadarVoice Reporters, June 6, 2026
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has stated that Nigeria’s current security challenges did not originate under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging citizens to avoid politicising the issue.
Umahi made the remarks while speaking with journalists, where he argued that insecurity in the country has been a long-standing problem that predates the present government.
According to him, it is misleading for critics to link the worsening security situation solely to the Tinubu administration, insisting that successive governments have grappled with similar challenges.
“It’s appalling when people talk about insecurity, especially extreme politicians, and insult President Tinubu,” he said.
“Insecurity didn’t start with this administration. It is very unfortunate. Security is the job of everyone. Security should not be politicised.”
The minister further claimed that spikes in violence and instability often coincide with election cycles, describing the trend as troubling and unfair to the government of the day.
“Why is it that anytime we are approaching elections, there is heightened insecurity?” Umahi asked, suggesting that political interests sometimes fuel instability.
He urged Nigerians to treat security as a collective responsibility rather than a partisan issue, warning against what he described as attempts to exploit insecurity for political gain.
“Anyone who takes the life of another person under any guise, God is watching,” he added.
Umahi stressed that addressing insecurity requires cooperation across all levels of society, including citizens, political actors, and security agencies.
He maintained that politicising violence undermines national efforts to restore peace and stability, calling instead for unity in confronting the challenge.
