Tinubu’s Repeated Promises to End Insecurity: Three Years On, Nigerians Still Wait

Since declaring his presidential ambition in 2022, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly assured Nigerians that his administration would end the country’s worsening insecurity. From campaign rallies to inauguration speeches, national broadcasts, military events and official engagements, the President has consistently pledged to defeat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
A review of his public statements shows that at least 10 major nationwide promises have been made between 2022 and July 2026, with numerous similar assurances delivered at political rallies and government functions. Yet, Nigerians are being massacred and kidnapped on a daily basis without any visible end.
Among the notable promises are:
2022 Presidential Campaign: Tinubu promised to restore security and reclaim communities from terrorists if elected.
May 29, 2023 (Inauguration): He pledged to protect lives and property while confronting terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
January 2024: Following widespread kidnappings, he assured Nigerians that criminal gangs would be defeated.
May 2025 (Second Anniversary): He declared that security had improved and vowed to sustain military operations despite continuing attacks.
February–March 2026: Tinubu reiterated that his administration would overcome terrorism through increased recruitment, intelligence gathering and stronger military operations.
July 6, 2026 (Nigerian Army Day): Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President announced a technology-driven strategy involving artificial intelligence, drones, intelligence systems and local defence production to “crush insecurity.”
July 18, 2026: The Presidency announced plans to recruit more security personnel, deploy forest guards, strengthen international military cooperation and expand surveillance technology.
July 30, 2026: Tinubu said the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions would enable faster responses to insecurity nationwide. He also ruled out negotiations with criminals and reaffirmed plans for forest guards and state policing with safeguarding forests.
Despite these repeated assurances, insecurity remains a major national concern. Several states continue to experience terrorist attacks, kidnappings for ransom, banditry, communal violence and attacks on farming communities. Security experts argue that while the government has introduced new military strategies and increased investment in technology, the scale of the challenge remains significant.
Supporters of the administration point to increased security funding, the recruitment of additional personnel, procurement of military hardware, regional security cooperation and intelligence-led operations as evidence of progress. Critics, however, contend that the frequency of deadly attacks and mass abductions indicates that many Nigerians are yet to feel the promised improvements in their daily lives.
More than three years into the Tinubu administration, the President’s commitment to ending insecurity has remained a constant feature of his public addresses. The central question for many Nigerians is no longer whether those promises have been made, but whether the security situation on the ground reflects the repeated assurances given since 2022.