By OOA

How the President Intends to Fight the Battle to Keep Nigeria Secured

President Bola Tinubu has said that he will never lose the battle to keep Nigeria secured, saying, he will continue to work assiduously and provide the military with the necessary support to keep the troublers of the nation at bay.

The troublers need to be kept at bay as the President said because of his huge and renewed hope plans for Nigeria’s National Security.  Insecurity is a great hindrance to any nation’s development and growth. The first move toward expanding the notion of security dates back to the 1960s, when Robert McNamara suggested that security implied the freedom of a state to develop and improve its position in the future. He remarked, “Security is development, and without development, there can be no security.

Understanding how important security is to national development, the president during his campaign gave his top priority lists of action plans to include national security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation, and education. National security tops the agenda. Since he assumed duty as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President has not taken the issue of national security with joke, he has been aggressive in changing and improving the security situations in the country, first with his appointment of highly experienced, patriotic and men of unquestionable character as service Chiefs.

Through the caliber of generals he appointed, the story has changed as lots of achievements have been recorded during their short period of command.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2023 in Maiduguri, Borno State, the President said he has no intention of relenting or resting on his laurels in securing Nigeria, declaring that he will win the battle to keep Nigeria safe. What a determination! So, how does the president intend to win this battle,

President Tinubu first of all showed his respect for the Nation’s heroes, acknowledging the Nigerian Army’s commitment to national security. He asked the army to remain non-partisan but vigilant in upholding democratic principles, emphasizing their role as a guardian of constitutional order during elections. Secondly, he asked the Army to remain focused as they have always been.

“The professional conduct of the Armed Forces during the elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States underscores your role as a guardian of our constitutional order and democracy precepts. In this regard, the Nigerian Army must remain non-partisan but vigilantly pro-democracy.

The President has also provided funds through the Chief of Army Staff for Civil Military Intervention Projects which would alleviate the suffering of people. Such interventions pave the way for excellent relationships between the military and the host communities leading to ease of intelligence gathering to foster military operations. According to the President,  “We also note with great satisfaction the many civilian-military projects across the country, some of which will be commissioned during this Conference.

“These projects not only bring the military and civilian population into closer affinity and mutual understanding, they also serve the practical purpose of tangibly improving the living conditions of the people,”. This is also part of development which will boost security situations in such areas. It should be noted that such projects are implemented all over the federation and not only in the North East. For instance, in Lagos and Ogun States, through the funds provided by the COAS, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Maj General MT Usman has carried out a series of CIMIC intervention projects around the states. Some of them include digging solar-powered boreholes, medical outreaches, educational outreaches, and many others which the host communities highly appreciate and promised their uncontaminated loyalty and cooperation to the Nigerian Army. The same applicable to other divisions in the Army.

The President’s recent procurement of new aircraft for Nigerian Army Aviation shows another strategy to win the battle to keep Nigeria secured. This makes it glaring that the President will this time around never lose this battle as he promised and his resolve to upgrade national defense capability.

Another winning strategy is the affirmation of his administration’s commitment to advancing the ongoing modernization process within the military, with a focus on improving mobility, communications, and offensive striking capabilities. This strategy will not only improve striking capabilities as the president said, but it will also boost the Nigerian military ability to Find the adversaries, fix the adversaries, and finally Strike and exploit them.

It could also be recalled that the President recently approved the release of 18 Billion Naira Group Life Assurance benefits to the families of fallen heroes. This is a huge morale booster for our troops as they could see in their lifetime that the welfare of the families of their fallen colleagues is not taken lightly. It will boost their will to fight and resolve to pay the supreme price if need be.

The President in his speech during the conference expressed the nation’s gratitude for the service and sacrifice of the armed forces, recalling his earlier approval of N18 billion in Group Life Assurance benefits for families of fallen heroes, even as he pledged continuous government support for the welfare of serving personnel and their families.

Another strategy we observed at securednaija.com is that the President does not joke about appreciating the Military’s commitment, sacrifices, and loyalty over and over again, which is also a morale-boosting approach to command. President Tinubu is surely ready to win the battle of keeping Nigeria secured.