General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Defence Minister, has triggered a firestorm by grading President Tinubu's security performance at 65 to 70 percent.
He made the controversial assessment during a Friday appearance on ARISE News television. Musa was reviewing the administration's three-year track record on national security.
According to him, Nigeria has achieved substantial progress against terrorism. He insisted the overall security landscape had markedly improved compared to earlier periods.
"I'll give ourselves 65 to 70 per cent," Musa stated during the broadcast. He added: "No nation is totally free from crime and criminality.
The level of terrorism across the country has actually drastically reduced."
The remarks immediately drew sharp pushback on social media platforms. Nigerians questioned how security could warrant such a high score while kidnappings, killings and attacks persist nationwide.
Critics cited recent violence in Borno, Kebbi, Plateau and Oyo states. Many argued insecurity remains embedded in daily life for ordinary citizens.
Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, rejected the assessment outright. He wrote on X: "The reality Nigerians face daily does not reflect this performance rating.
Security is still collapsing in many parts of the country."
Journalist David Hundeyin also challenged Musa's remarks. Communities across Nigeria, he noted, continue battling relentless abductions and ransom extortion.
"You cannot be scoring yourself 70 per cent when children are still being abducted from schools and communities are paying ransom weekly," Hundeyin stated.
Imran Muhammed posed a pointed question. If insecurity had truly declined, why do parents in troubled regions still fear sending kids to school?
Amin Magaji sarcastically asked: "Did this man understand the meaning of percentage?" Urulor Patrick's response was blunter still: "How? Oga pack well."
Alhaji Musa Zekeri chimed in with his own skepticism. He wrote: "Can you hear your overrated Christopher?"
Some social media users accused Musa of abandoning professional objectivity for political gain. They suggested he'd lost credibility by aligning with the administration.
Dannie Nnaemeka Anih commented: "We had high hopes until he wore the Asiwaju cap. His reasoning was gone and now it's evident."
Musa Yakubu implied political interests shaped the minister's assessment. "There is more money on the table for share," he wrote.
Adebisi Segun observed that public officials routinely resort to self-praise when confronted with poor results. It's a familiar pattern in governance, he suggested.
Akintulerewa Victor Alaba delivered one of the harshest critiques. He lamented Musa's handling of security challenges and departure from professionalism.
"With stories of kidnapping and no visible technological steps to rescue victims, there is no way forward," Alaba wrote of the minister's efforts.
Emmanuel Ennih saw the backlash as symptomatic of Nigeria's political environment. "Nigeria politics will convert a saint into the devil himself," he remarked.
