Landmark crime, security report affirms Tinubu’s commitment to data-driven governance — Presidency

President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to data transparency and evidence-based policymaking was reaffirmed with the unveiling of the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS).

In a statement on Wednesday, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communications, described the groundbreaking report as a significant departure from conjecture-based policymaking. The CESPS provides detailed insights into crime trends across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and underscores the administration’s efforts to address security and socio-economic challenges.

The CESPS, the first of its kind under the Tinubu administration, revealed notable variations in crime experiences across the country. According to the report, the North West recorded the highest number of reported incidents at 14.4 million, followed by the North Central with 8.8 million, the North East with 7.9 million, the South South with 7.7 million, the South West with 6.9 million, and the South East with 6.2 million, the lowest nationwide.

The report attributed the overall reduction in crime nationwide to coordinated efforts among security agencies, private sector collaborations, and strategic leadership under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

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According to the presidential aide, key successes include a decline in kidnappings in the South, a reduction in banditry and cattle rustling in the North, and fewer attacks linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other separatist groups in the South East.

The statement highlighted the recent arrest of Finland-based instigator Simon Ekpa, who was responsible for inciting violence in the South East, as a significant boost to the administration’s security achievements. It also noted a decline in school attacks in the North and enhanced operational synergy among military and paramilitary forces, signaling a positive shift in Nigeria’s security landscape.

While inflation experienced a slight uptick in 2024, the CESPS identified natural disasters, particularly floods in the North, as a key driver. States such as Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Gombe, which are pivotal to Nigeria’s agricultural production, were severely affected. This led to reduced food supply and increased prices.

In response, the Tinubu administration swiftly distributed 2.1 million bags of fertilizer and approved ₦30 billion for mechanized farming initiatives in federal universities. Additionally, truckloads of 50kg bags of rice were sent to all 36 states to combat hunger and stabilize food prices.

Collaboration with the World Bank to invest $600 million in rehabilitating 200,000 kilometers of rural roads highlights the administration’s commitment to long-term solutions for food production and distribution challenges.

The statement further affirmed the Tinubu administration’s notable progress in steering Nigeria’s economy away from a precarious debt-to-revenue ratio. Over the past year, the ratio improved from 97:3 to 68:32 through deliberate fiscal policies and revenue diversification.

Foreign reserves have surpassed $40 billion, and the government has cleared $7 billion in forex arrears, restoring confidence in Nigeria’s economic stability. These measures reflect a governance structure focused on fostering a more robust and inclusive economy.

Daniel Bwala praised the CESPS initiative as a “game-changer” for Nigeria’s policymaking. “Res ipsa loquitur – the facts speak for themselves,” he said, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to using credible data as the foundation for decision-making.