Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said Nigeria’s lingering insecurity could be decisively tackled within six months if the Federal Government demonstrates sufficient commitment.

Ndume stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, where he expressed concern over the recent escalation of violence, particularly in the North-East.

The lawmaker stressed that beyond complaints, what is required is decisive action and political will.

“It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me as a senator to say why these things. I always believe that if the President and the Federal Government of Nigeria are serious about this, we can end this thing (insecurity) in six months.

“All we need is to train our soldiers, equip them, arm them very well, and then motivate them,” Ndume said.

The senator lamented the continued loss of military personnel, including senior officers, noting that such incidents highlight deeper operational challenges.

“After killing their commanders, they now come back to kill our commanders and they are still taking about five, six, or even seven. Even today, around Northern Borno, we lost a colonel, I understand, with some soldiers. This should not continue. This is now the problem,” he said.

Ndume also attributed the worsening security situation to inconsistent and incomplete implementation of security strategies.

“The escalating security situation has really been enhanced by the challenge and the threat, and the actions that have been taken that have never been completely done. We have to be very serious about this matter; we have to walk the talk.”

Speaking on the issue of foreign support, the lawmaker emphasised the need for intelligence, technology, and specialised expertise rather than relying on external forces.

“What we need is intelligence. What we need is air support. We also need the expertise of those that are specialists. We even have some that were trained outside, special forces. We have capable hands already on the ground; all they need is equipment, ammunition, and motivation.

“We do not have enough drones. Look at what Burkina Faso is doing, it is technology. We can use technology to finish or minimise these things within the shortest possible time. If you deploy drones and have trained people to operate them, with proper command centres, we can achieve results,” he said.

The Borno South senator further noted that Borno State would have suffered greater devastation without the efforts of Governor Babagana Zulum and commended his interventions in stabilising parts of the state.

Ndume’s comments come amid renewed security concerns in the North-East and across Nigeria.

A recent airstrike at Jilli Market along the Yobe–Borno border on Saturday has come under scrutiny over reported civilian casualties.

The Nigerian Air Force said the strike targeted suspected Boko Haram insurgents and that it is investigating reported civilian casualties.

While casualty figures remain unclear, several deaths and injuries were reported, with victims receiving treatment in nearby facilities.

The incident also followed a deadly attack on Thursday on a military formation in Benisheikh, where troops repelled insurgents but suffered casualties.

Security challenges, including banditry, kidnappings, and communal clashes, persist nationwide.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, during a recent visit to Bayelsa State, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

In a related development, the United States Department of State has issued travel advisories and begun reducing its staff presence in Abuja. Federal Government, however, described it as a routine precaution and not a reflection the country’s security situation.

Hundreds of youths in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Monday staged a protest over what they described as a politically motivated attempt to undermine the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The demonstrators, drawn from various youth and civil society groups, marched through major streets of the community, voicing strong support for the independence of the electoral body and expressing confidence in Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and INEC National Commissioner-nominee.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enemies of Fairness, Beware!” and “Fair Elections Start with Amupitan,” the protesters insisted that recent claims and rumours circulating on social media were part of a broader agenda to discredit the electoral system.

The protest featured a large procession of youths on motorcycles and on foot, drawing attention from residents as participants chanted solidarity songs and called for the protection of democratic institutions.

Speaking during the demonstration, a youth leader identified as Segun said the group would resist any attempt to “blackmail” or weaken the electoral body.

“We are here to send a clear message: the sanctity of INEC must be preserved. Prof. Amupitan is a man of integrity and a proud son of this land. Any attempt to malign his character or remove him unjustly is an attack on democracy,” he said.

The protest comes amid ongoing national debates over the appointment of new INEC National Commissioners, with some civil society organisations and opposition voices raising concerns about alleged political affiliations of certain nominees.

However, the Kogi youths dismissed such allegations as “sponsored propaganda,” arguing that Amupitan’s professional record and legal expertise position him to strengthen the credibility of the commission and ensure transparent electoral processes.

Meanwhile, INEC has rejected calls for the removal of its chairman, describing such demands as unconstitutional and a threat to the independence of the electoral body.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission stressed that its leadership is governed strictly by constitutional provisions, particularly Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the process for appointment and removal.

The Commission explained that its recent actions, including compliance with court rulings and decisions relating to party activities, were guided by the rule of law and aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic framework.

INEC also dismissed claims of partisan bias, noting that its recognition of multiple political parties and commitment to electoral transparency contradict allegations of a one-party agenda.

On the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, the Commission clarified that the initiative is a routine administrative process designed to sanitise the voter register, eliminate irregularities, and enhance the integrity of electoral data.

Reaffirming its commitment, INEC stated that it remains focused on delivering free, fair, and credible elections, adding that it would not be distracted by what it described as unfounded allegations.

The developments come ahead of key off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun states later in the year, as stakeholders continue to scrutinise the electoral body’s actions and leadership.

The Federal Government has granted a waiver on import duties for mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and manufacturing machinery.

The development followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to key economic officials to design measures to cushion the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on Nigerians, particularly amid rising fuel prices.

A disclosure contained in an X post on Monday by Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, noted that the move is part of new fiscal measures aimed at easing economic pressure on Nigerians and curbing inflationary pressures.

Olusegun said the Tinubu administration approved a broad set of import duty reductions to lower inflation, support businesses, and improve affordability for consumers.

“President Tinubu’s administration has approved a massive reduction in import duties of selected products in order to further reduce inflation, empower local businesses and increase affordability for consumers,” he said.

The Israel–US–Iran conflict, ongoing since February 28, 2026, has severely disrupted global oil flows, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global crude supply.

Under the new policy, import duties on electric vehicles were reduced from 5% to 0%. Mass transit buses were also granted full duty exemption, down from 5% to 0%, to encourage cheaper public transportation and support cleaner mobility alternatives.

The levy on manufacturing machinery was equally scrapped, falling from 5% to 0%, in a move aimed at lowering production costs and boosting industrial activity.

Raw cane sugar was adjusted from 70% to between 55% and 57.5%, while crude palm oil duties were reduced from 35% to 28.75%.

The policy also introduced broader tariff adjustments across key import segments – passenger vehicle duties were reduced from 70% to 40%, while tariffs on bulk rice were cut from 70% to 47.5% and broken rice from 70% to 30%.

In the industrial and construction sector, steel sheets and coils were lowered from 45% to 35%, while glazed ceramic tiles were reduced from 55% to 46.25%, in a move aimed at easing production and construction costs.

A 90-day transition phase beginning April 1, described as a “Transition Phase”, to allow markets to adjust gradually and avoid sudden shocks, has also been introduced.

The Mideast crisis has driven volatility in energy prices and raised shipping and insurance costs across multiple global economies, including Nigeria.

Since the start of the conflict, crude oil prices surged as high as $120 per barrel due to attacks on energy infrastructure and restricted shipping routes.

Nigerian crude and major contracts were pushed below $95 per barrel after a ceasefire announcement on April 8.

Brent crude and WTI fell by more than 15%.

On Sunday, April 12, however, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the United States Navy to begin a blockade of all ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.

The renewed escalation triggered a surge in oil prices, with Brent crude rising above $102 per barrel and WTI climbing to $104.16 per barrel on April 13.