A member of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Francis Onyema, has criticized the proposal by Bola Tinubu to install 5,000 surveillance cameras in Plateau State, arguing that the measure is inadequate to tackle the country’s security challenges.
Onyema made his position known in Abuja on Friday, shortly after the president’s visit to the state following recent deadly attacks in Jos. The violence, particularly in the Angwan Rukuba area, reportedly claimed at least 27 lives.
During the visit, Tinubu outlined plans to enhance security, including the deployment of AI-powered surveillance systems and the establishment of a committee to compensate victims.
However, Onyema warned that concentrating such infrastructure in one location could have unintended consequences, potentially redirecting criminal activities to other parts of the country.
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He questioned the effectiveness of the approach, noting that insecurity is widespread and requires broader, more coordinated solutions rather than isolated interventions.
The NRM chieftain also criticized what he described as the government’s lack of a comprehensive strategy, arguing that piecemeal efforts would not adequately address the scale of the problem.
He urged citizens to demand more practical and far-reaching policies, stressing that limited measures risk wasting public resources without delivering meaningful results.
Onyema’s remarks align with growing criticism of the Federal Government’s handling of the Plateau crisis. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also faulted aspects of the president’s condolence visit, suggesting it reflected a disconnect between leadership and the realities faced by citizens.
He further referenced an earlier visit to Benue State in June 2025, which he claimed did not adequately reach the worst-affected communities and instead took on a political tone—an indication, he said, of a recurring pattern in official responses to national tragedies.
The recent attacks in Plateau State and the debate surrounding proposed security measures underscore the persistent challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, as authorities continue to search for effective ways to protect lives and restore public confidence.
