South East Records Lowest Crime Rate as Presidency Unveils Security Survey

The administration of President Bola Tinubu, through the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has launched the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), a comprehensive initiative designed to provide data-driven insights into Nigeria’s security landscape.

According to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, the survey represents the government’s commitment to transparency and evidence-based governance. The 2024 CESPS report highlights crime rates across the six geopolitical zones, with the South East recording the lowest incidence at 6.2 million cases and the North West the highest at 14.4 million cases.

The report provided a breakdown of crime statistics nationwide: South West reported 6.9 million incidents, South-South recorded 7.7 million, North East 7.9 million, North Central 8.8 million, and North West led with 14.4 million. Bwala noted that this year’s findings reflect the administration’s progress in tackling security challenges across the country, marking a significant improvement from 2023.

He credited the decline in crime to enhanced coordination between security agencies, military and paramilitary forces, and private-sector collaborations fostered under the Renewed Hope agenda. Specific reductions were noted in kidnapping in the South and armed banditry and cattle rustling in the North, particularly in the North West.

Bwala also highlighted reduced activity by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its affiliate, the Eastern Security Network, in the South East. He pointed to the arrest of Finland-based Simon Ekpa, accused of instigating violence in the region, as a critical development in restoring stability. In addition, school attacks in the North have declined compared to previous years.

On the economic front, the report acknowledged the impact of recent floods in northern states, including Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Gombe, which disrupted agricultural output and contributed to inflation. The administration responded with initiatives such as distributing 2.1 million bags of fertiliser, allocating N30 billion to Federal Universities of Agriculture for mechanised farming, and delivering truckloads of rice to all 36 states to combat hunger.

Further efforts included a $600 million partnership with the World Bank to rehabilitate 200,000 kilometers of rural roads, facilitating food production and distribution. These measures aim to mitigate food insecurity and stabilise prices in the coming months.

On fiscal policy, Bwala stated that the Tinubu administration had reduced the debt-to-equity ratio to 68:32 from 97:3 within a year, paid off N7 billion in forex arrears, and boosted foreign reserves to over $40 billion. These efforts, he said, are part of a broader strategy to establish a robust economy that benefits all Nigerians.