By – Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Insecurity ranging from Kidnapping for ransom, Boko-Haram insurgency, Indigenous People of Biafra- IPOB unrest in the Southeast, and Communal clashes in various parts of Nigeria are the threats faced by the Country for years.
Security is one of the major pillars of President Tinubu’s administration’s renewed hope agenda. Other sectors of the charter include; bringing about prosperity and unity, food security, economic growth, access to capital, exclusivity, fairness, and anti-corruption.
All these items if we’ll digest are centered around the security of the nation as putting them together means prosperity for Nigeria, means employment generation, and enough food for the nation.
It could be recalled that recently President Tinubu signed into law the supplementary budget of 2,631,706,188.80 dollars ( 2.176 trillion Naira ) passed by the National Assembly.
The security sector received a high portion of the allocation which stands at 376.543 billion Naira (459,097,981.76 dollars )This move indicated the government’s readiness to tackle the security challenges if the fund allocated is used properly.
Tinubu’s appointment of the service Chiefs was received with applause
On 31st July 2023, President Tinubu inaugurated the new Service Chiefs he appointed after their confirmation by the senate.
This appointment was seen by many Nigerians as the first move made by President Tinubu to reshape the security architecture of the country.
The Senate had previously confirmed their appointments before the ceremony.
The newly-inaugurated service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Tinubu’s historic speech during the Inauguration
Speaking at the occasion, the President emphasized the importance of maintaining teamwork, which he credited for the gains recorded thus far in the security sector.
He commended the dedication, commitment, and steadfastness displayed by the Armed Forces, acknowledging their significant contributions to the nation’s peace and stability.
”We have seen that we are recording positive results in our security challenges because of your dedication, commitment, and steadfastness,” President Tinubu stated.
He assured the new Service Chiefs that the government is committed to supporting them in their responsibilities.
The President underscored the value of virtues such as positive team thinking, unity, and selfless service to the nation, declaring that despite current economic challenges, a better future awaits Nigeria.
He urged all members of the Armed Forces to view themselves as one single family, regardless of their diversity.
He also offered prayers for God’s blessings upon the Nigerian Armed Forces, wishing them peace, progress, and success in their endeavors to protect the country’s territorial integrity.
President Tinubu emphasized the importance of honest service to the nation, which he said everyone in government including the service chiefs must embrace, adding that he is working very hard to solve the current economic challenges being faced by Nigerians.
”We are committed to serving you and not to rule over you, the President said.
The Service Chiefs respond
Speaking on behalf of the Service Chiefs, General Musa expressed their unalloyed commitment to ensure the security and defense of the nation in their respective positions.
He also pledged to uphold with utmost dedication the safety and well-being of the nation and its citizens.
”Our appointment is a clear manifestation of the confidence reposed in us and recognition of our humble abilities to deliver for our dear nation. We pledge to carry out our duties with utmost dedication and full loyalty.
I assure Mr. President that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is 100 percent loyal to the government. We will go wherever we are ordered, whether by air, sea, or land.
We will ensure that Nigeria is projected in good light. May God bless Nigeria and guide the Armed Forces in our efforts to guard our nation’s territorial integrity, and ensure peace and security reigns supreme,” he said.
Fredric Nwabufo is the Senior Special Assistant to the President Tinubu on Public Engagement. He said the insecurity affecting Nigeria is gradually going down under the present administration due to the measures put in place
The renowned analyst now aid to the President of Nigeria Stated this recently in a write-up titled “Securing Nigeria pluck by pluck”
He said securing Nigeria is a principal objective of the Renewed Hope charter. The Tinubu administration has exercised responsibility with significant gains in the share of security since the assumption of office. Although there is more to be done and will be done.
The special assistant to the President added that Bola Tinubu’s administration is wholly committed to removing security threat threats and securing law-abiding Nigerians anywhere in the country.
“Excellence needs no hype, makeover, or agitprop. Good work manifests itself in palpable reality. The security bent of the Tinubu administration is an exercise of deliberate, coordinated, meticulous, and prescient deployment of strategies and actions to secure Nigeria. It is securing Nigeria pluck by pluck — with inexorable courage, purpose, and urgency.
A large part of success in security operations lies in ICC – interagency cooperation and coordination. What more demonstrates this plank than the synergized effort between the Department of State Services and the army in precluding what could have been a devastating blow, with a sludge of casualties in Kano?
On November 3, the symbiotic effort of the Nigerian Army and the DSS led to the successful foiling of an attack on Kano by insurgents. The insurgents had been machinating a marquee attack that could, perhaps, dampen citizens’ confidence. A detachment of soldiers and DSS operatives swooped on the sanctuary of the subversives in a dawn blitz in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, arresting the henchmen.
The joint team recovered five AK-47 rifles, five AK-47 rifle magazines, one rocket-propelled gun (RPG), five RPG bombs, six hand grenades, five pairs of desert camouflage uniforms, 10 pairs of magazine pouches, and some improvised-explosive devices (IED) making materials.
The success of this operation is implicit in the cooperation and coordination between the army and the DSS, as well as in the action of intelligence. What imperiled security in the past was, partly, perhaps, interagency rivalry and the absence of coordination. Sometimes, intelligence was available, but actioning could be the challenge owing to some contentions.” Nwabufo said.
He also said On 2 November, the allied effort of the army and the police resulted in the rescuing of two corps members. Bandits had kidnapped the corps members who were transiting from Edo state in Yargoje community, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. However purposive and united endeavors of endeavors agencies led to the safe return of the hostages.
Interagency Cooperation and Coordination (ICC) is pivotal for securing Nigeria
It is elemental for achieving the priority objective of the administration, which is strengthening national security for peace and security.
Since July 2023, the security forces have chalked up reasonable gains against subversives without a noising of the winnings. There is a fillip in security operations across the country. Since the past week, for instance, there have been intensive air strikes against the troublers of our nation.
In the north-west, the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji on November 1, conducted a slew of successful air strikes in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, targeting the hermitage of a terrorist kingpin, who is responsible for a chain of terrorist acts and banditry across Kankara and adjacent local government Areas in the state.
The air strikes removed clusters of refuge used as hideaways by the kingpin and his gang, effectively dismantling their base of operation. Only Very few survivors escaped the fury of the Nigeria Air Force.
In the north-east, precision air strikes by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) on November 3, led to the elimination of several terrorists at their rendezvous, near Degbawa in Goza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The terrorists were responsible for the recent attack on some locals in Geidam on October 31 and had planned to meet to review the attack as well as the next line of onslaught on innocent Nigerians and other vulnerable targets.
In the southeast, security agencies have sustained incisive operations, rooting out units of IPOB/ESN terrorists from the area. Peace and normalcy are returning, just as citizens’ confidence is witnessing a reinforcement. For instance, on October 5, troops of Operation UDO KA II conducted raids on the haven of the terrorists around Ihiom-Ihittenansa in Orsu Local Government Area and Okigwe-Umulolo in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
The operational base and shrines of the subversives were erased, two suspects arrested, and a cache of arms recovered. This includes ammunition, one PKT machine gun barrel, one locally made rocket-propelled launcher (Ogbunigwe), and IED-making materials. In many other operations, imminent attacks had been thwarted, IPOB/ESN terrorists removed and arrested; criminal hermitages destroyed, hostages freed, and arms and ammunition recovered.
Further operations are in progress in the north-central, south-south, and south-west. Across these zones, criminal hideouts have been extirpated, threats neutralized, arms and ammunition recovered, suspects arrested, and kidnap victims rescued.
These sustained efforts, successes, cooperation, and coordination among the security agencies clearly say there is a responsible and strategic national security leadership. There is purpose, there is direction; there is commitment, there is the will and the way, and there is a sense of urgency.
However, these efforts made by Tinubu’s administration need to be appreciated by Nigerians and contribute their quota towards achieving more.
Additional resources provided in the supplementary budget need to be released on time so that the security agencies will get the necessary facilities for running their affairs.
Also, Cooperation between Security Agencies needs to be sustained and strengthened to achieve the desired goal.
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