Nigeria pushing security overhaul, but challenges persist – First Lady Remi Tinubu

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, says the Federal Government has embarked on wide-ranging security reforms but admits the country still faces significant challenges in restoring lasting stability.

Mrs Tinubu made the remarks during an interview with Fox News Digital on Friday while on a week-long official visit to Washington, D.C., where she engaged U.S. officials on security collaboration, diplomatic relations, and concerns raised by some American lawmakers over violence affecting Christian communities in Nigeria.

Her comments come days after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly commended her at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, describing her as a “very respected woman” and referencing her position as both Nigeria’s First Lady and an ordained pastor.

The interview also followed Nigeria’s designation by the United States in late 2025 as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged attacks on Christians — a classification the Nigerian government rejected, arguing that insecurity in the country stems from terrorism and criminal activities that cut across religious and ethnic divides.

Addressing security cooperation, Mrs Tinubu welcomed recent U.S. military action against Islamist militants operating in northwest Nigeria.

“The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development,” she said, adding that Nigeria remains open to deeper collaboration in tackling insurgency and organised crime.

She also responded to assertions by some U.S. lawmakers that a “Christian genocide” is taking place in Nigeria, saying Nigerian officials used their engagements in Washington to correct what she described as misconceptions.

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“We’ve been able to educate them more about the situation on ground. We live in Nigeria. We know that this is a democracy,” she said, noting that international opinions are sometimes shaped by political narratives rather than local realities.

According to the First Lady, the current administration inherited serious economic and security challenges but has taken steps aimed at rebuilding the country’s security framework. She disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had replaced the nation’s service chiefs as part of efforts to reset the security architecture.

She further revealed that the government has approved the recruitment of 50,000 additional police officers and 24,000 soldiers to boost manpower across the country. In addition, 10,000 forest guards, who were previously unarmed, have now been authorised to carry weapons to secure forests often used as hideouts by terrorists and bandits.

Mrs Tinubu also said 11,566 police officers formerly attached to VIP protection duties have been withdrawn and redeployed to security flashpoints such as Plateau, Benue and Taraba states.

“We hear what the world is saying. We are concerned about our people’s safety. Nigeria is a country that encourages freedom of religion, and that is entrenched in our Constitution,” she said.

Beyond security measures, the First Lady linked national stability to economic reforms, pointing to the removal of fuel subsidy — which she described as unprecedented — and renewed domestic refining capacity as steps helping to stabilise foreign exchange rates and reduce reliance on fuel imports.

“We are trying to make sure that insecurity we can tackle. There is so much work to be done,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu stressed that Nigeria remains focused on tangible actions rather than public rhetoric, noting that international cooperation will remain central to addressing insecurity.

“We have to partner with other countries who mean well for Nigeria,” she said, adding that sustained collaboration is essential for long-term peace and national development.

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