Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, June 5, 2026, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that the administration’s call for Nigerians to unite against terrorism is an admission that it has failed to effectively address the security crisis.
Dalung made the while responding to questions regarding recent appeals by government officials for citizens to unite in the fight against terrorism and violent crime.
The former minister was reacting to comments by the Minister of Information, who urged Nigerians to come together against terrorists, bandits and insurgents. The minister had suggested that the objective of such groups extends beyond attacks and kidnappings, warning that they seek to create divisions and weaken national unity.
Responding to the appeal, Dalung questioned the rationale behind the government’s call, insisting that Nigerians have already demonstrated a willingness to confront insecurity while the authorities have failed to show sufficient commitment to solving the problem.
“I think it’s a statement confirming that the federal government has completely and woefully failed, and they don’t seem to have any idea of solution to the ravaging insecurity that is across the country,” Dalung said.
He cited the security situation in Plateau State as an example of the broader challenges facing many communities affected by violence and displacement.
According to him, insecurity in some parts of the state has reached a level where road travel has become increasingly dangerous, not only because of attacks by armed groups but also due to tensions arising from communities displaced by violence. “Let me tell you, in Plateau now, it is not safe for you to travel on the highways, not because of the fear of terrorists,” he stated.
“But you will run into a community that has been displaced by terrorists. And in anger, they will take over the highways and begin to attack vehicles that seem to look like that of leaders,” he added.
Dalung argued that the prevailing mood among citizens suggests that Nigerians are already committed to resisting terrorism and criminal violence. He maintained, however, that the challenge lies in what he described as a lack of political determination on the part of government authorities.
He said, “So, I don’t know what unity the federal government is asking Nigerians against terrorism. Nigerians are determined to deal with terrorism. But government seems not to have the political will to deal with.”