The Presidency has said Nigeria is not under siege despite persistent security challenges in some parts of the country, insisting that incidents of violence are confined to specific locations.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks during an appearance on *Arise Television's* *Prime Time* programme on Tuesday.
Onanuga argued that media reports on insecurity often create the impression that the entire country is unsafe, whereas many Nigerians continue to travel across the country without encountering security threats.
To support his position, he cited his recent road trip from Lagos to Oyo State for a burial ceremony. He also referenced the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), who, according to him, recently drove from Abuja to Kebbi State by road.
He urged Nigerians not to conclude that the country is under siege because of reports of attacks and kidnappings.
"Don't let people frighten you that the entire country is under siege. It's not so. There are security breaches," Onanuga said.
He noted that many reported cases of kidnappings and attacks occur at night, adding that security agencies had previously advised Nigerians against travelling after dark.
"Any time I read about a kidnap or an attack somewhere, sometimes I look at the time. It happened around 8 p.m., 9 p.m., sometimes 1 a.m. The police had advised people to stop travelling at night," he said.
Responding to a question on whether it was safe to travel by road through states affected by insurgency, including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Niger, Onanuga said some Nigerians still undertake such journeys.
According to him, the NELFUND Executive Secretary recently told him he had driven from Abuja to Kebbi State without incident.
