Former vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s new security plan is “a joke” that ignores the real causes of insecurity.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise News, Datti asserted that Tinubu’s declaration of  national security emergency “has missed the point completely.”

He insisted that the government’s approach was misguided, wasteful and distorted by corruption.

“He has missed the point completely.

“This declaration of a state of emergency is a joke. Leave it at that,” he said.

Speaking further, Baba-Ahmed rejected the President’s plan to recruit and rapidly train thousands of new personnel.

He opined that the security crisis plaguing the nation is not caused by a lack of manpower.

“It is not about numbers. It is about reducing corruption in the war against insecurity itself.

“How much of the money budgeted for security is actually going to the war, and how much is going into 2027 elections? Once you remove that corruption, Nigeria will become secure,” he argued.

He claimed the police, if freed from political interference, could eliminate banditry swiftly.

“Remove the Nigerian armed forces. The Nigerian Police alone can wipe out insecurity in two months. Remove corruption, remove political interest, give them support, they will do it,” he said.

On the broader performance of the administration, Baba-Ahmed said, “This government is skating on thin ice. The ice is so thin you cannot believe it. We are in a precarious situation.”