Beyond Yari’s Remark: What Tinubu’s Security Record Reveals
By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
Senator Abdulaziz Yari’s recent remarks on national security have reignited debate over the performance of successive administrations against a crisis that has defied years of military campaigns, increased spending and policy interventions.
During a visit to Kebbi State on October 19, 2026, Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, reportedly argued that even late President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Army general, could not completely resolve Nigeria’s insecurity. He questioned the expectation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a civilian, should achieve that feat quickly.
His underlying point that insecurity cannot be eliminated overnight is reasonable. But the framing was strategically unhelpful. It risked reducing a complex national challenge to the military background of the president rather than focusing attention on the more consequential questions: what is the government doing, what results have followed, and what remains to be done?
The issue examined in this article is neither political defensiveness nor the dismissal of legitimate public concerns. It is an evidence-based assessment of the administration’s record.
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu’s government has announced significant investments and structural changes in the security sector, alongside operational gains reported by security agencies. These developments deserve scrutiny and recognition, but they must also be measured against the insecurity that Nigerians continue to experience.
Security Leadership is More Than Military Background
Nigeria’s security crisis spans terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, separatist-linked attacks and oil theft. These threats have different drivers and require more than military force alone. Intelligence gathering, effective policing, judicial accountability, local cooperation and economic interventions all have roles to play.
Buhari’s military background did not guarantee the elimination of insecurity during his eight years in office. Equally, Tinubu’s civilian background does not preclude him from strengthening the Armed Forces or directing effective security operations.
As Commander-in-Chief, the President is responsible for strategic direction, leadership appointments, resource mobilisation and ensuring that security institutions operate effectively. Success, however, depends on how these decisions translate into operational readiness and greater protection for citizens.
The relevant question, therefore, is not whether the president is a retired general. It is whether his administration is building the capacity to protect lives and propert, and whether that capacity is producing measurable improvements.
Expanding Military Capacity and Investment
In July 2026, Tinubu approved an expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight divisions to 12 and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. Subsequently, 50,000 police constables were already recruited by the Police Service Commission since August. The proposed divisional headquarters in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City are intended to strengthen territorial coverage, improve command and control, and enhance responses to emerging threats.
The increase from eight to 12 divisions represents a 50% expansion in the number of divisional formations. However, approval is only the beginning. The real test will be the timely establishment, staffing, equipping and operational readiness of the new formations.
The recruitment authorisation could also strengthen the Army’s capacity to sustain deployments, secure vulnerable communities and pursue armed groups across difficult terrain. Its impact will depend on proper training, adequate equipment, logistics and effective deployment.
Funding provides another indicator of the administration’s priorities. Analysis by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies puts federal defence and security allocations at approximately ₦3.24 trillion in 2024, ₦4.91 trillion in 2025 and ₦5.41 trillion in 2026.
The 2026 figure is about ₦2.17 trillion, or 67%, higher than the 2024 allocation in nominal terms. This indicates a substantial increase in budgetary commitment, although inflation, actual releases and spending efficiency affect the resources available in practice. Higher allocations are meaningful only when they translate into operational capability and improved public safety.
Equipment Modernisation and Personnel Welfare
The administration has also overseen additions to the country’s military aviation capabilities. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inducted two T-129 ATAK combat helicopters and a King Air 360ER aircraft in February 2024, followed by two Agusta A-109S Trekker Power helicopters in May 2025. Four Diamond-62 surveillance aircraft were delivered in October 2023, although their procurement process began before Tinubu’s presidency.
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In October 2026, the Air Force also took delivery of two H125 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy received three additional warships in June, strengthening its fleet for maritime security operations.
These acquisitions can improve surveillance, mobility, combat support and maritime patrols. Their practical value, however, depends on maintenance, trained personnel, spare parts and consistent availability for missions.
Personnel welfare is another important component of operational effectiveness. In August 2026, the government announced military salary adjustments ranging from 30% for senior leadership to 80% for junior ranks, effective from September. Budget provisions have also covered barracks rehabilitation and accommodation.
Improved remuneration and living conditions can support morale and retention, but they must be accompanied by reliable welfare administration, appropriate equipment and conditions that enable personnel to perform their duties effectively.
Operations and the Rescue of Abducted Citizens
The government’s reported operational figures offer another basis for assessing its security response. At a July 2026 briefing, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) reported that the Armed Forces conducted 14,221 operations between January and June, neutralised 1,597 terrorists and insurgents, rescued 1,516 kidnapped victims, and recovered 451 firearms, 16,726 rounds of ammunition and 161 explosives and improvised explosive devices.
Nevertheless, these official figures provide measurable indicators of sustained security operations across multiple theatres. Their significance should ultimately be assessed alongside trends in attacks, civilian and military casualties, abductions and territorial control.
The rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State provides a more immediate illustration of operational outcomes.
On July 10, 2026, security agencies rescued pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. The victims had spent more than 50 days in captivity. The operation involved the military, police, intelligence agencies and other security partners.
The Presidency said eight suspected abductors were arrested and others neutralised. It also reported that the victims were rescued without granting the kidnappers’ demand for the release of a suspected terrorist kingpin.
The operation brought relief to traumatised families and demonstrated the importance of intelligence, inter-agency coordination and sustained operational pressure. But the prolonged captivity also exposed the vulnerability of schools and the need for stronger early-warning systems and preventive security measures.
In August, the Presidency announced the rescue of 308 abducted citizens in separate incidents involving Niger and Kwara states, attributing the outcomes to coordinated action by federal security agencies.
Such rescues deserve recognition. Yet the ultimate objective must extend beyond recovering victims: authorities must disrupt kidnapping networks, prosecute perpetrators and prevent communities from being exposed to repeated attacks.
Prosecution Remains Essential
Military operations must be reinforced by effective investigations and prosecutions. In July 2026, ONSA reported 865 terrorism-related convictions during Phases Nine and Ten of Nigeria’s mass-trial programme.
The programme began in 2017, before Tinubu assumed office. Its entire historical record should therefore not be attributed to the current administration. The reported convictions nevertheless point to continuing efforts to bring terrorism suspects before the courts.
Credible investigations, fair trials and effective prosecution are essential to weakening criminal networks, denying them impunity and upholding the rule of law.
The Record and the Unfinished Task
Yari’s remarks have attracted attention because insecurity remains a daily concern for millions of Nigerians. Citizens are entitled to demand safer roads, protected schools, secure farms and communities free from kidnapping and violent attacks.
But the persistence of insecurity does not mean every intervention has failed. Equally, increased budgets, new equipment and official reports of operational successes do not mean the crisis has been resolved.
Tinubu’s record includes higher defence allocations, an approved expansion of the Army’s divisional structure, additional recruitment authorisations, new aircraft and naval assets, improved military remuneration and substantial operational and rescue figures reported by security agencies. These are identifiable developments that warrant serious assessment.
Ultimately, national security should not be reduced to whether a president is a retired general or a civilian. It should be judged by the capacity of institutions to protect lives, restore public confidence and enable Nigerians to live, travel, farm, trade and learn without fear.
That is the standard against which Tinubu’s administration should be assessed—and the more constructive conversation that should emerge from the controversy surrounding Yari’s remarks.
The evidence points to significant policy initiatives and reported operational gains. The task now is to convert them into sustained, measurable improvements in the safety and confidence of Nigerians.
