Senator Ali Ndume has claimed that his phone communications are under surveillance by the Nigerian government, sparking debate over monitoring practices and national security priorities.
The Borno lawmaker made the assertion on Thursday while featuring on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.
According to him, he has on several occasions been advised to exercise caution during phone conversations because they were allegedly being monitored.
When pressed on whether he believed he was being tracked, Ndume responded affirmatively.
He, however, downplayed the concern, stating that the country is currently facing more pressing security issues.
Ndume questioned why security agencies appear unable to effectively track criminal elements despite their alleged capacity to monitor individuals, noting that some terrorists openly publicise their activities on platforms like TikTok.
He said, “It is surprising that bandits and terrorists can boldly display their actions on TikTok and circulate such content freely.
“If it is possible to monitor phone calls, including those of public office holders like myself, then it raises questions about what is really happening.”
The senator added that he had received multiple warnings about his phone being monitored, urging him to be mindful of his conversations.
He further expressed concern over the seeming inability of intelligence agencies to gather useful information on the movements and operations of terrorists.
“If journalists can access information about individuals, one would expect security agencies to be even more equipped to track criminal activities,” he said.
Reiterating his position, Ndume said he was aware of the alleged surveillance but insisted it was not his major concern in light of the nation’s security challenges.
