The presidency has described a recent article by The Economist on Nigeria’s challenges as “flawed” and “anti-Nigeria”.

In the article which was published on Saturday, The Economist had criticized the federal government’s approach to insecurity, saying “when violence erupts, the government does nothing or cracks heads almost indiscriminately”.

The article had also criticized security agencies, and in its recommendations, said “to stop the slide towards lawlessness, Nigeria’s government should make its own forces obey the law”.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said while the article’s identification of the security threats facing Nigeria are “correct”, the present administration is the only government that has shown determination to fight insecurity.

While faulting the description of banditry attacks in the article, Shehu said criminals who have resources to shoot down military aircraft shouldn’t be referred to as “bandits”, but as “highly organized crime syndicates with huge resources and weaponry”.

He added that while such organized syndicates are not different from insurgents, the current administration remains committed to addressing the situation.