Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has stated emphatically that the recent calls for the removal of Nigeria’s service chiefs will not bring an end to the country’s ongoing challenge with terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. In a statement released on September 11, 2025, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker warned that those demanding the sack of the current military leaders have hidden agendas and do not have the best interests of Nigeria or the present administration at heart.
Ndume urged a more proactive and comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity through what he described as the TEAM strategy—focusing on Training, Equipment, Ammunition, and Motivation for security forces. He emphasized that improving the welfare and operational capacity of the military and other security agencies is central to combating violent extremism effectively.
“The soldiers and officers on the frontline need adequate ammunition and motivation to succeed,” Ndume said, highlighting that the basic salary of a private in the Nigerian Army is roughly ₦100,000 (approximately $67) per month, with a daily feeding allowance of just ₦5,000, which he described as “unconscionable.”
Ndume, who has personal experience with security matters as a former chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army and representing a region heavily affected by Boko Haram insurgency, praised President Bola Tinubu’s appointments for achieving ethno-religious balance, contrasting it with previous administrations.
He called on Nigerians and stakeholders to desist from statements that could demoralize service members engaged in arduous security operations, insisting that leadership alone does not determine success—adequate resources and support do.
As insecurity worsens with fatalities on the rise in northern Nigeria, Ndume’s call for renewed focus on funding, logistics, and welfare rings as a critical policy recommendation in the face of complex security challenges.
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