Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has defended the President Bola Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity, insisting that despite persistent security challenges across the country, the Federal Government has made genuine efforts to tackle the crisis.

Gagdi accused some opposition figures of exploiting the country’s security situation for political gain rather than offering constructive solutions to address the problem.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the lawmaker acknowledged the continued loss of lives, including civilians and security personnel, but argued that the administration should be judged by the measures it has taken to confront insecurity rather than by the continued existence of the threat.

While admitting that insecurity remains a serious concern, Gagdi maintained that the country was not losing the fight against terrorists and other criminal elements.

His words: “It is unfortunate when lives are being lost. When you hear me say Nigerians are being killed, I’m not referring only to Nigerian citizens who are not in uniform. It includes the gallant men who are at the frontline of this war that are being killed on a daily basis, the police, immigration, Civil Defence, the military comprising the Air Force, the Army and the Navy.”

“I will not equally want to say that the war is being lost. We are facing a trying moment and we all need to be on our feet to pray for this country, to prove patriotism, to stop the blame game, to stop attacking only government, to speak the truth to government and to speak the truth to citizens”.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker stressed that tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility and national unity instead of partisan politics.

“We must collectively be patriotic. We must be united against terror. By the time we keep drifting to a perspective of playing politics with the security and lives of the people of this country, it will be unfortunate,” he said.

Gagdi noted that although no government is infallible, criticism should be aimed at improving governance rather than securing political advantage.

“No government is a saint. Governments are bound to make mistakes. But when we escalate the mistakes, not with the view of calling the attention of government to adjust its deficiencies, but with the view of trying to play politics and get some political advantage from the situation, God will ask us at the end of the day,” he added.

The lawmaker disclosed that he had previously criticised aspects of the Tinubu administration’s security policies on the floor of the House of Representatives but said his interventions were intended to improve government action rather than score political points.

“I have challenged government on the floor of the House where I felt government policy regarding insecurity was not correct. I have said that, but not with a political tune,” he said.

Gagdi argued that President Tinubu had remained committed to fulfilling his campaign promise to improve security, adding that the administration’s efforts deserved recognition even if the challenge had not yet been completely resolved.

“I will not refuse to tell you here that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did make effort towards solving the security problem. Promising to fix the security problem and putting effort toward fixing the security problem should be recognised.

“Whether you are able to fix your problem, or you haven’t fixed the problem, it doesn’t mean you have reneged on your promise to Nigerians toward solving the problem,” he said.

He added that the recent intensification of military and security operations across the country indicated that the government had reviewed and strengthened its approach in response to evolving security threats.

“The security agencies’ efforts in the last few weeks have been doubled and it is acknowledged. It means therefore that the problem is being identified”.

According to him, the renewed operations demonstrate that the administration remains committed to addressing insecurity.

“If you have equally recognised the fact that there is an improvement in the modus operandi of security agencies towards the issue of insecurity in Nigeria, it means therefore that the promise we made to Nigerians has not failed. It only goes to tell you that perhaps at a point the federal government did not get the right approach to the problem,” he added.

Gagdi faulted some opposition figures for allegedly exploiting insecurity to advance political interests instead of contributing ideas that could help address the challenge.

“From the tune of some people that are supposed to be leaders of this country when they are talking about what Nigerians are passing through, you will see that they seem to appreciate the situation Nigeria is going through. Instead of lamenting and proffering solutions, you lament and tie it to the fact that government is defective in solving that problem to achieve some political gain,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to restore peace and security, stressing that patriotism, unity and constructive engagement remain essential to overcoming the country’s security challenges.