FORMER Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, describing developments in parts of the country as reminiscent of a civil war.
News Point Nigeria reports that Amaechi made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at the National Convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja, where he criticised the handling of security challenges under President Bola Tinubu.
“I watched yesterday in Nasarawa State—people were running away from their community like a civil war. The civil war image came back to my head,” he said.
Reflecting on his time in office, Amaechi emphasised the need for decisive leadership in tackling crime, noting that he took a hands-on approach while serving as governor.
“When I was governor of Rivers State, you couldn’t commit a crime, and I would sleep. I wouldn’t sleep until you were arrested. All of us would stay awake until the person was caught,” he added.
He criticised what he described as a “distant response” by the Federal Government to the country’s security crisis, insisting that leaders must take responsibility on the ground during emergencies.
“Your citizens are trekking from one place to another like a civil war, and you are doing nothing. A leader must be in front during crises. If you don’t want to be in front, then step aside and allow another person to lead,” he said.
Beyond security, Amaechi also took aim at recent economic policies, warning that Nigerians could face even greater hardship in the coming months.
“The taxes they’ve imposed—wait until June when they start collecting annual company taxes. Nobody will be able to buy petrol; nobody will be able to feed. Let me repeat, if Nigerians are not hungry, I am hungry. The situation is bad; it is terrible,” he stated.
He further questioned the democratic credentials of the current administration, accusing it of undermining democratic values despite past pro-democracy struggles.
“How can a man (Tinubu) who said he is a democrat, who fought on the side of NADECO, be stopping democracy? These people don’t care. What they care about is money.
“The man doesn’t care,” Amaechi said, adding, “They are using the institutions of government against the people of Nigeria… In one of his statements, he said, ‘Let the poor breathe.’ Are the poor breathing?”
Amaechi’s comments come amid renewed security concerns across the country, with reports of displacement and violence continuing to emerge.
In Nasarawa State, residents have reportedly been fleeing their communities on foot following repeated armed bandit attacks, abandoning their homes and livelihoods in search of safety.
In the North-East, a recent airstrike at Jilli Market along the Yobe–Borno border has also drawn scrutiny over alleged civilian casualties. The Nigerian Air Force said the operation targeted suspected Boko Haram insurgents and confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The development followed a deadly attack on a military formation in Benisheikh, where troops reportedly repelled insurgents but suffered casualties.
Despite the growing concerns, President Tinubu, during a recent visit to Bayelsa State, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and addressing the nation’s security challenges.