President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that he has prioritized national security as a fundamental aspect of his governance.
Speaking at the Chief of Defence Staff Joint Task Force Commanders Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Tinubu lauded the military and security agencies for their relentless efforts in combating security threats across the country.
Represented by the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, the President said, “While I applaud the tremendous efforts of the Armed Forces, I wish to also commend the various joint task forces and security agencies operating across the country for demonstrating the tenacity to bring all armed criminals to book.
“This has been instrumental in ensuring peace and stability within our country. Let me assure you that I have prioritized Nigeria’s security and will remain committed to supporting our Armed Forces and other security and para-military agencies in discharging assigned tasks and responsibilities,”
Tinubu also emphasized the need for synergy among all security arms to effectively tackle the evolving security landscape.
He urged conference participants to explore innovative solutions, integrate emerging technologies, and foster multi-agency cooperation to counter the nation’s security threats effectively.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, highlighted the growing security threats posed by the proliferation of improvised explosive devices and the increasing use of armed drones by terrorists.
He stressed the urgent need for the military to adopt innovative and adaptive strategies to counter these threats effectively.
“While we celebrate our achievements, we must remain vigilant as the security landscape continues to evolve, presenting new and complex challenges.
“Evolving threats such as armed drones, transnational crimes, and the proliferation of IEDs demand innovative and adaptive responses. We must leverage technology, enhance intelligence-sharing, and strengthen interagency cooperation to counter these threats effectively.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan, called for greater investment in the defence and intelligence sectors to address the country’s security challenges effectively.
Lawan also advocated a restructuring of military procurement processes to ensure they align with the operational needs of various security services.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, emphasised that promoting peace and security remains a core pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
He stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military share a common goal in ensuring Nigeria remains a beacon of hope for Africa and the global community.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes seriously the crucial task of translating our government and people’s vision and aspirations into effective diplomatic action,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to team up with local vigilantes to comb the forests nationwide to forestall the hibernation and the continued presence of bandits and herdsmen in their hideouts.
The resolution of the House was a sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Edo lawmaker, Billy Osawaru, during plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Osawaru, a member of the All Progressives Congress, noted that Nigeria has over time been faced with the scourge of insecurity, including terrorism, banditry and militia activities leading to unfortunate killings, kidnapping, abductions and armed robbery.
He also listed other security challenges being faced in the country, including cattle rustling, vandalism of critical national infrastructure and unknown gunmen who continue to kill and maim across the country.
According to him, “The Amotekun Corps has mobilised over 2,000 personnel to flush out bandits and other criminals operating in forests in the South-West region, and there is a need for a holistic approach to extend this action to the neighbouring forests of the South-South region.
“The House is aware that this ugly trend of insecurity is detrimental to the growth, development and future of the nation as panic and tension continually mount on the citizens regarding their safety, while investor’s confidence is reduced.
“Farmlands have been abandoned resulting in a decrease in food production, scarcity, hunger and inflation as well as displacement of large population.
“The House is concerned that the continued presence of banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria underscore a clear deficiency in our country’s security architecture, thereby necessitating a critical need to reassess, reevaluate and reinvent the nation’s response and tactics for combatting these unconscionable security breaches.
“The House is worried that if willful and productive actions are not deployed to ascertain, review, develop and strengthen comprehensive strategies to curbing this unprecedented wave of security crises; its scope will continue to widen, perhaps to areas where there has been relatively peaceful.”
The plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, further urged its Committees on Police Institutions, Army, Interior and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance with its directive and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions.
The PUNCH
