Former Gombe State Deputy Governor and ex-senator, Joshua Lidani, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise intelligence coming directly from lower- and mid-level security personnel if the country is to overcome its worsening security crisis.
Lidani made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, shortly after the National Flag-off of the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative at the National Institute of Sports, National Stadium.
The three-day event brought together farmers from all states and the Federal Capital Territory under the coordination of the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria, led by Amb. Olakunle Johnson.
Lidani, a lawyer and senior member of the All Progressives Congress, said Nigeria’s security agencies already have the capacity to defeat insurgents and criminal groups, but stressed that the Federal Government must rely on accurate, ground-level intelligence.
“I will advise Mr President to listen to the military, especially the lower ranks, the middle ranks. Get information from them,” he said. “Vital intelligence lies with lower and middle-rank officers.”
He warned that relying only on reports filtered through senior officers could distort the reality in the field. “If he receives the correct information, he will know where bandits, killer-herdsmen, and kidnappers operate, including their networks and camps,” he added.
Lidani insisted that Nigeria does not need foreign intervention to resolve its security challenges, arguing that the armed forces can deliver results if properly motivated.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces have the capability. They just need the right motivation. The President should not be overly lenient with top officials; he needs to demonstrate firmness,” he said.
He advised Tinubu to demand strong commitments from security appointees and remove those who fail to perform. He also urged the President to put national security above political considerations ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If he solves insecurity, the second term will be automatic. But if he avoids tough decisions because someone is a political heavyweight, he may end up achieving nothing,” he said.
Lidani called on the Federal Government to show stronger political will, saying only decisive leadership can restore peace across the country.
